With trust in leadership declining across many sectors and employee burnout
continuing to rise globally, a new leadership narrative is emerging, one rooted in
radical authenticity, not performance. According to industry trends (just check out the
narratives on social media), authenticity has become one of the top qualities
employees now expect from their leaders. And the results are clear: real leadership
drives real impact.
In today’s hybrid, fast-paced world of work, where team members often feel
disconnected and overwhelmed, leadership expert and business consultant
Jacqueline van Rooijen, is calling on executives and emerging leaders alike to “ditch
the mask and lead with more soul – terrifying as it might be.”
“Authenticity isn’t about oversharing or being flaky, it’s about integrity, emotional
consistency, and having the courage to be real,” says van Rooijen. “It’s not soft. It’s
strategic.”
Why Authenticity Matters More Than Ever
Multiple peer-reviewed studies continue to show that authentic leadership increases
psychological safety, team engagement, and overall job satisfaction. Employees led
by authentic leaders report greater trust in leadership, higher motivation, and lower
turnover. In an AI, post-pandemic world, trust is no longer given – it’s earned. And
that starts with leaders who are willing to show up honestly, especially when the
pressure is on.
Practical Hacks to Lead More Authentically
Van Rooijen shares five key practices leaders can implement immediately:
1. Conduct a Personal Values Audit: Identify your core values and assess whether
your leadership decisions are aligned with them. Authentic leaders act from their
convictions, not just convenience.
2. Practice Radical Listening: Create intentional space in meetings to ask: “What
am I not seeing or hearing right now?” Then pause. Authenticity starts with
listening, not reacting.
3. Name the Hard Stuff: Leaders don’t need to have it all together, but they do need
to name what’s real. A simple “I don’t have the full answer yet” can humanise
leadership and foster trust.
4. Stop Speaking in Bullet Points: Start telling stories. Vulnerable, values-driven
storytelling helps teams connect not just to a leader, but to the ‘why’ behind the
work.
5. Get Feedback from People Who’ll Tell You the Truth: Authenticity is a mirror
you can’t hold alone. Ask peers, team members, and mentors where your impact
and your intent might not be aligned. (Forward-thinking leaders are moving
beyond ‘Yes Men’ and echo chambers.)
As companies grapple with rising attrition and employee disengagement, authenticity
is no longer a buzzword – it’s a benchmark.
Van Rooijen, who works with leadership teams across various sectors to support this
shift through workshops, coaching, and executive sessions, concludes: “The future
of leadership isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about building cultures where
it’s safe to ask the right questions.”
ENDS
WORD COUNT: 463
SOURCES:
1. Edelman Trust Barometer
2. Gallup State of the Global Workplace
3. Psychological Reports
4. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies
5. Journal of Business Ethics
About Jacqueline van Rooijen.
Jacqueline van Rooijen is a strategic leadership advisor, high-performance sales
coach, and founder of The Elite Edge™ — a 90-day executive programme designed
to help growth-stage CEOs, sales leaders, and founders scale with clarity, cohesion,
and conviction.
With a background spanning leadership development, operational excellence, and
on-the-ground sales team activation, her approach is unapologetically strategic and
deeply personal. She builds trust fast, sees gaps others miss, and partners with
leadership teams to build systems that not only work but last.
“I don’t just coach — I help leaders build growth engines that scale with their values,
not against them.” Jacqueline van Rooijen
A Press Release on Behalf of:
Jacqueline van Rooijen
Director at Ycagel and Transformation Coach