742: The Problem Leaders Have With Authenticity, with Sabina Nawaz

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Jul 28, 2025

Sabina Nawaz, an executive coach with a wealth of experience advising C-level leaders at major corporations, discusses the complex nature of authenticity in leadership. She highlights how using authenticity as a shield can hinder growth and the importance of calibrating actions rather than justifying behaviors with phrases like 'yeah, but.' Sabina emphasizes that authenticity is dynamic, not static, urging leaders to experiment with small changes in behavior. Her insights challenge common misconceptions, showcasing that true leadership requires reflection and adaptation.

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INSIGHT

Authenticity Is Contextual

Authenticity is not singular or static; it varies depending on context and role.
We show genuine but different expressions of ourselves in different settings like work, family, and social life.

INSIGHT

Authenticity vs Integrity

Authenticity must be balanced with integrity which demands assessing if primal instincts serve current intentions.
We often misuse authenticity as an excuse to avoid adjusting behaviors that don't align with our goals.

ANECDOTE

CEO's 'Just Me' Bluntness Costs Time

Janet, a CEO, was successful but her blunt "that's just me" attitude wasted her team's time and hurt communication.
Realizing the impact of her behavior led her to temper authenticity with awareness of others' reactions.

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Sabina Nawaz: You’re the Boss

Sabina Nawaz is an executive coach who advises C-level executives and teams at Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions. During her 14-year tenure at Microsoft, she went from managing software development teams to leading the company’s executive development and succession planning efforts for over 11,000 managers and nearly a thousand executives, advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly. She’s the author of You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)*.

Every leader I know intends to be authentic. Unfortunately, we sometimes use authenticity as an excuse not to do the critical work of calibrating our actions. In this conversation, Sabina and I discuss how to avoid that trap so we can show up more genuinely for others.

Key Points

“Yeah, but…” signals justification and holds us back from what we most need to learn.
Your success comes despite unhelpful traits, not because of them.
Pure authenticity is a complete fallacy. Authenticity is not singular.
We sometimes use authenticity as an excuse not to do the important work of calibrating our actions.
Don’t let the smokescreen of past “authenticity” get in the way of growth.
Authenticity is not static. Reading your old past social media posts will remind you of this.
When shifting, start with small experiments to nudge you in a new direction.

Language that may be warning signs of the authenticity trap:

“That’s just how I am.”
“I’m not the kind of person who…”
“I’m not being true to myself if…”
“That’s the way I’ve always done things, and it’s worked for me.”

Resources Mentioned

You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need)* by Sabina Nawaz

Interview Notes

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Related Episodes

How to Change Your Behavior, with BJ Fogg (episode 507)
How to Start a Big Leadership Role, with Carol Kauffman (episode 617)
The Habits That Hold Leaders Back, with Marshall Goldsmith (episode 696)

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