Build a Leadership Narrative You Actually Believe

Authentic leadership narrative — how to build a leadership narrative you actually believe, without the impostor syndrome. Discover values-based leadership and a practical framework for telling your real leadership story. Learn how self-aware leadership and confident storytelling for leaders can transform your leadership identity and impact. What You'll Learn: • How to define a leadership narrative that connects who you are with how you lead • A simple framework to link your values, strengths, and life experiences to your leadership story • How authentic leadership narratives reduce impostor syndrome for leaders and build real confidence • Ways to use storytelling for leaders to increase trust, clarity, and followership on your team • How to shift from borrowed leadership scripts to a self-authored, values based leadership identity • Practical prompts to uncover defining moments that shape your leadership behaviors and decisions • How to stress-test your leadership narrative so it stays honest, credible, and not “spin” • A tiny-steps action plan to apply your new leadership narrative this week About the Guest: In this episode, your host draws on research from psychology, neuroscience, and management studies rather than featuring a single external guest. You’ll hear evidence-based insights translated into practical tools any leader can use, whether you’re managing your first team or leading at the executive level. Episode Content: 00:00 - Why your leadership narrative matters more than your job title 04:32 - What a leadership narrative actually is (and what it’s not) 09:15 - The research: self-authored stories, confidence, and ethical decisions 14:48 - Mapping who you are to how you lead: values, strengths, and experiences 21:05 - Common leadership narrative myths that fuel impostor syndrome 27:40 - Storytelling for leaders: sharing your narrative without sounding fake 33:10 - Stress-testing your narrative with real situations and feedback 39:22 - Three small actions to start living your leadership narrative this week Full Description: Building a leadership narrative you actually believe is one of the most powerful ways to practice authentic leadership, fight impostor syndrome, and lead with integrity. In this episode, we break down what a leadership narrative really is—a concise, purpose-driven story that links who you are (values, strengths, life experiences) with how you lead (behaviors, decisions, impact)—and how to craft one that feels honest instead of aspirational fluff. Drawing on research from psychology, neuroscience, and management, you’ll learn why self-authored narratives boost leadership confidence, ethical decision-making, and team trust. Instead of copying generic “I’m a visionary, people-first leader” language, you’ll get concrete prompts to surface real defining moments, hard lessons, and values that truly shape how you show up at work. We’ll explore how a clear leadership story acts as your internal true north when you’re second-guessing yourself, and as an external message that helps others understand what they can expect from you. You’ll hear how to avoid turning your narrative into spin, how to acknowledge your edges and mistakes without undermining your authority, and how to adjust your story as you grow—without losing your core. To make this practical, the episode closes with three tiny, research-backed actions: 1) Take a few minutes to write down the key ideas that resonated with you about building a leadership narrative you actually believe, so you remember and can act on them. 2) Identify one specific area in your current role or life where this knowledge applies right now—maybe a new team, a promotion, or a tough stakeholder. 3) Choose one small step you’ll take this week to apply what you learned, even if it’s as simple as rewriting your “about me” slide or testing one part of your story in a 1:1. Whether you’re wondering how to be a better leader, looking to build leadership confidence, or trying to reconcile who you are with the role you’re in, this episode gives you a clear, values based leadership roadmap. You’ll walk away with language, structure, and next steps to create a leadership identity—and a leadership narrative—you can finally stand behind.

What You'll Learn:

• How to clearly define a leadership narrative and why it matters more than a polished bio or resume
• A step-by-step way to connect your values, strengths, and life experiences to your daily leadership behaviors
• Specific techniques to use an authentic leadership narrative to reduce impostor syndrome and second-guessing
• Practical storytelling for leaders tactics that build trust without sounding scripted or self-promotional
• How to separate borrowed leadership scripts from a self-authored, values based leadership identity
• Questions and prompts to uncover defining moments that reveal how you naturally lead under pressure
• Methods to test and refine your leadership story with feedback and real-world situations
• A simple three-step plan to capture your insights, find one current application, and take one tiny action this week

About the Guest:

In this episode, your host synthesizes research from psychology, neuroscience, and management to offer a clear, practical guide to authentic leadership. Rather than featuring a single external guest, the show distills evidence-based insights into tools any leader can immediately apply. The focus is on translating complex research into simple steps for building a credible, values-based leadership narrative.