How Can You Communicate Both Humility & Authority?

#SMWL24 had the best emcee this year. Chad caught me off guard when I finished my talk, about to walk off stage, and some of the NOW Marketing Group team slapped some hair gel in his hair to match my mohawk for the crowd! I tried to get him to match my signature "Warrior Face" for a picture... but I'll let you judge whether he nailed it or not! :)

There was a time in my life that this moment would've thrown me off in a negative way. "But what if people only see me for my monster truck-themed-matching mohawk? I want people to remember me for really great content."

The more I speak and lead, the more I realize that these moments are precious in winning over people who are giving us their attention.

We cannot take ourselves so seriously that we disenfranchise people from listening. Sharing stories of when and how we learned valuable insights disarms people. They want to hear more!

In leadership, striking the right balance between humility and authority is crucial. As leaders, we must convey expertise without appearing arrogant or unapproachable. Easier said than done, right???

I've learned that sharing both successes and failures can be a powerful tool when it's done correctly. When I discuss my career journey, I show both backflips and backFLOPS - moments of triumph alongside missteps. This approach demonstrates that growth is a process, filled with ups and downs.

Key takeaways:

1. Acknowledge your limitations: Being open about what you don't know builds trust. But understand that what you don't know costs you and your team the most!
2. Share lessons from failures: It shows growth and resilience. It also shows that failure isn't final!
3. Highlight team contributions: Give credit where it's due. Shine the spotlight on someone else in critical moments to relieve any prideful tension your audience/team may be questioning.
4. Maintain confidence in your expertise: Humility doesn't mean downplaying your knowledge. It means including a story about WHEN/HOW YOU LEARNED IT!

By embracing vulnerability, we create an environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and learning from mistakes.

The ONLY way to move forward is less about teaching productive risk and more about showing what productive risk looks like!

Remember, true authority doesn't come from projecting an image of perfection, but from demonstrating wisdom gained through experience – both good and bad. By leading with authenticity, we inspire others to shift into their full potential, imperfections and all.