One of the biggest leadership temptations is imitation.
We see a successful coach, executive, or mentor and think, “If I want to lead like them, I need to be like them.” But the reality is that growing as a leader—developing new habits, adopting best practices, building emotional intelligence—is not the same as trying to copy someone else’s personality or leadership style.
Tony Dungy puts it this way in Quiet Strength, reflecting on when he was hiring his inaugural assistant coaching staff with the Buccaneers:
“I had learned [from Chuck Noll with the Steelers] that you need all types of personalities on a staff. The last thing I should do was surround myself with fifteen clones of me.”
That same truth applies to how we lead ourselves.
Authentic leadership doesn’t mean not developing—it means staying true to our core. My quiet thoughtfulness might be just as valuable as someone else’s charisma. Your intensity can be just as effective as another leader’s measured patience.
A clip of Bryan Shelton, professional tennis coach (and former pro player) talking about his son, Ben, and authenticity
Leaders build trust when their actions match their values—and their personality. People can sense when we’re trying to “perform” instead of truly lead. In fact, they’ll follow a leader they believe in far more than one they merely admire.
Yes, we should keep growing. But let’s grow as ourselves, not as someone else.
Don’t mimic. Learn. Don’t clone. Collaborate. Don’t copy. Lead—authentically.
That’s how lasting influence is built. Not by pretending, but by showing up consistently, leading with integrity, and staying grounded in who you are.
Be the kind of leader only you can be. Because your team doesn’t need another version of someone else—they need the best version of you.
#beyourself #authentic #authenticity
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