As humans, we are hardwired to sense when someone isn’t being genuine. It’s a survival instinct which has been built over millennia of needing to know instantly: Can I trust this person? Do they truly have my back?

That instinct doesn’t disappear in the workplace. When a leader says something that doesn’t match their actions, people feel it right away. The result? Distrust, not just in the leader, but in the organization they represent. Authenticity isn’t a “nice to have” in leadership, it’s the foundation of trust. And I think without trust, there’s no influence, no loyalty, and no lasting impact.