If You Walk the Talk, You Don’t Have to Talk the Walk: The Problem with Performative Leadership

Leadership today seems to be at a crossroads. We often see managers and executives loudly proclaiming their commitment to doing the right thing, flaunting their so-called values at every opportunity. But what happens when the spotlight fades? When it’s time to actually do the right thing—especially when no one is watching?

Too often, these same managers fall silent.

It’s easy to talk about integrity, transparency, and fairness. But how many leaders genuinely embody these values without needing to broadcast them? How many leaders have mastered the art of “walking the talk,” only to realize that if you walk the talk, you don’t have to talk the walk?

Let’s break this down.

The Culture of Virtue Signaling

We’re surrounded by managers who shout from the rooftops about their commitment to diversity, employee well-being, ethical business practices, and customer-first approaches. They attend conferences, post on social media, and use buzzwords like “authentic leadership” to signal their moral high ground. But where is this enthusiasm when things are going well?

Why do some managers only seem to be loud when defending their decisions or positioning themselves as the moral compass of the company, but go radio silent when real success—borne from consistency and quiet action—arrives?

This culture of performative leadership has become a real problem.

Performative Leaders vs. Authentic Leaders

There’s a stark difference between managers who perform for approval and those who authentically lead. Performative leaders feel the need to constantly remind everyone of their values, to market themselves as ethical beacons. Yet, when the hard work of leadership needs to happen—quietly, consistently, and without applause—they disappear into the background.

Authentic leaders don’t need to wave their virtues in front of everyone’s faces. They are too busy putting in the actual work. They lead by example, navigating challenges without needing recognition. Their commitment to doing the right thing is so ingrained that it doesn’t need to be broadcast.

Why Loud Leadership Fails

The problem with this loud, “watch me do the right thing” approach is that it often fails to create real impact. It becomes a distraction, a performance of morality rather than a demonstration of it. When managers prioritize how they are perceived over how they actually lead, they send a dangerous message: optics matter more than action.

And here’s the real kicker: the employees, the teams, the customers—they see through it.

When you are consistently vocal about your values but fall short when it comes to demonstrating them in practice, you lose credibility. No amount of virtuous hashtags or corporate talking points can mask a leader’s inaction.

If You Walk the Talk, You Don’t Have to Talk the Walk

True leadership speaks for itself. If you are consistently doing the right thing, you don’t need to shout about it. If you are walking the talk, your actions will carry far more weight than your words ever could. Your team will see it. Your customers will feel it. Your business will thrive from it.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: are we more interested in being seen as leaders, or in actually leading?

The next time you hear a manager loudly proclaiming their commitment to doing the right thing, take a step back. Are their actions in alignment with their words? Because if they are truly leading with integrity, they won’t need to remind you of it every five minutes.

Leadership is not about the loudness of your convictions. It’s about the quiet, consistent work you do when no one is looking. If you’re truly walking the talk, the results will speak for themselves—and you won’t have to talk the walk.

So, the next time you feel compelled to tell everyone how committed you are to the right thing, ask yourself: are you walking the talk? Because if you are, there’s no need for the performance. Your actions have already told the story.

A Call to Action

Managers, it’s time to reassess. If you’re serious about leading, start by letting your actions do the talking. The world doesn’t need more speeches about doing the right thing. It needs more leaders who simply do it.