Genuineness: The Courage to Be Real
Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say
By Jane Phipps
Melbourne, Australia
Featured on medium.com
Genuineness is one of those qualities we can spot in a heartbeat and miss in a flash. It’s the quiet strength that makes heart-centered leadership stick. It’s the glue that holds trust and respect together, allowing teams to succeed. When leaders are genuine, people know they’re seeing the real deal—and they’re more likely to engage.
In my last article, we explored vulnerability—the courage to be real even when it’s hard. Genuineness takes that vulnerability one step further. It’s not just about showing up with your heart; it’s about living your values in every interaction. It’s about consistency, honesty, and sincerity in those moments that matter most.
Genuineness is about being exactly who you appear to be—no masks, no pretence. It’s the thread that weaves trust, respect, and collaboration together. When leaders are genuine, they create cultures of honesty, curiosity, and growth. People feel safe to bring their full selves to work—flaws, fears, and all (my personal soapbox)—enabling real engagement and innovation.
Genuineness isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real. It’s about having the courage to own your mistakes, to say, “I don’t know,” and to stay true to your principles even when it’s easier to stay quiet.
What Genuineness Looks Like in Action
Genuine leaders:
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Own their mistakes, even when it’s uncomfortable.
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Treat people with honesty and respect, especially in tough conversations.
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Stay true to their values, even when it would be easier not to.
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Lead with vulnerability, showing that it’s okay to be human.
Being genuine means letting people see the real you, not just the polished version you think they want to see. It means showing up with your heart and your humanity. It’s about building a culture where learning, feedback, and growth are part of everyday life—and invisibly embedded into workplace culture.
If genuineness is so important, why do so many leaders struggle with it? Fear of judgment. The desire to be liked. The pressure to appear perfect. And let’s not forget ego—that part of us that craves validation, status, and approval.
These barriers are real, often ingrained from years of “professionalism” training. We’ve been taught that leaders must be strong, polished, and in control. That’s an outdated model of leadership—and it’s time to move beyond it.
The truth is that people connect with honesty and vulnerability, not with perfection or image management.
Genuineness also requires vulnerability. It’s about saying, “I’m not okay right now, but I’m still here,” or “I don’t have the answer, but I’ll find it with you.” It’s the courage to show up fully, knowing that not everyone will get it—but the people who matter most will.
A Personal Reflection
I learned the power of genuineness the hard way. When my dad passed away, I had to make an emergency dash to the UK for his funeral. We hadn’t spoken in thirteen years, so returning home to Australia and back to work was emotionally raw.
I couldn’t pretend to be okay. I couldn’t plaster on a smile and carry on as if nothing had happened. Instead, I chose to be real with my team. I told them I was struggling to find my rhythm—that I was still processing everything—but that I was here, as always, to support them.
It wasn’t about being an emotional mess; it was about showing that I was human. That I was present, but not perfect. That honesty brought us closer as a team.
They didn’t see weakness—they saw strength in my willingness to be real. It reminded me that you can always lead from the heart, even when it’s bruised.
Genuineness in Life, Family, and Community
Genuineness isn’t only a leadership quality; it’s a way of being that shapes every part of our lives.
Being genuine with yourself means living your life in alignment with your own values, goals, and beliefs. It means being true to your personality and moral compass, rather than constantly trying to fit someone else’s expectations.
In family settings, this can be one of the hardest things to practice. It certainly was in mine. Fear of judgment—especially from those closest to us—can tempt us to hide parts of ourselves or play roles we think others want us to play. The desire to be liked can become a roadblock to sharing who we really are.
Yet in my experience, the more we hide, the more disconnected we feel from ourselves and those around us.
In our communities, genuineness means showing up with honesty and integrity. It’s about standing by your principles even when it’s unpopular, and treating people with respect, even when you disagree. It’s about being real in a world that often pressures us to perform.
Genuineness, at its core, is the bridge between our internal world and the world we share with others. It’s where courage, vulnerability, and integrity meet—and where real connections are made.
A Final Reflection
I invite you to reflect on where you might be holding back your real self.
Is there a conversation you’ve been avoiding?
A truth you’ve been hesitant to share?
A part of yourself you’ve been keeping hidden out of fear?
Remember—heart-centered leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being real and vulnerable, even when it’s messy. That’s where trust grows, connections deepen, and true leadership begins.