When I was in a VP role, I posted a blog on the company Intranet.

I’d sat on it for months overthinking whether or not to share it. Should a “VP” share like this?

It was personal. I talked about my challenges as a female leader, a mother and shared some funny bits when everything went wrong.

A colleague encouraged me to post it.

It went viral. I thought I understood authenticity. The comments took this deeper!

Authenticity isn’t just about being true to who you are. It’s about being truly open, having nothing to prove, nothing to defend and nothing to hide.

• Nothing to prove
• Nothing to defend
• Nothing to hide

How would it feel if you showed up this way?  I can tell you, it’s liberating!  I wish I’d know this earlier in my career.  I knew it intellectually, but I never had the deep awareness of it.  I never operated 100% from this place.

I never REALLY understood the power of my voice as a leader.

Hundreds of comments like:
`I didn’t think it was possible to be a mother and reach senior positions.’
`It’s nice to know I’m not the only one struggling.’

Fast forward to today. I received this message.

“I’m grateful for your down to earth approach during XXX. An unsettling time and many senior management seemed far away and unapproachable, but the ultimate turning point was your blog which reached the masses. Making everyone at every level feel that normal life routines are part of working life and can be spoken about. It also felt inspiring that you can reach high for senior positions if you want them.”

Even though I wrote the article quite some time ago, I felt profoundly happy when this message hit my inbox.

What imprint are you leaving at this very minute that is touching someone’s life for ever?  who are you helping to stand a little bit taller today?