Act Wisely, Lead Boldy: Redefining Performance for Today’s Trailblazers
What do you think of when you picture effective leadership? Imagine you’re in an audience watching a “great leader” onstage. What qualities make their leadership stand out?
In the past, these qualities might have included unwavering confidence, assertiveness, and total control. But times are changing. People—employees, clients, and community members—now crave vulnerability over superficial confidence, positive and constructive cultures over negative ones, and genuine, honest relationships with their leaders.
The Problem with Old-School Leadership
In his Forbes article, “Leadership is Not Performance: 3 Ways to Ditch the Act and Lead Authentically,” Vibhas Ratanjee calls for an end to "performative leadership." He says, “Real leadership isn’t about performing; it’s about leading as the person you truly are. When you drop the act and embrace your authentic self, you unlock a leader’s greatest strength: the ability to inspire genuine trust and lasting connection.”
He’s almost got it right. As someone who’s been involved in the theatre world for decades, I’ve seen amazing performances and some real flops. The secret? Linking intention with audience impact through your actions. Where I disagree with Ratanjee is the idea that we can—or should—stop performing. We’re always performing, meaning we’re committing to real, specific actions that shape the experience we want our audience to have. Performance isn’t pretending. Acting isn’t faking.
The Myth of Abandoning Performance
Ditching performance isn’t the solution—we can’t escape it. Even not performing is still a performance. Since audience preferences are changing, leaders need to adapt. Instead of a fruitless attempt to abandon performance, let’s embrace a new kind of performance that includes vulnerability, transparency, and honesty.
Committing to being genuine or “real” without a strategic plan can lead to new problems. Without clearly defined guidance or direction, leaders might:
Over-share personal details unnecessarily.
Appear unprofessional when committing to genuineness without explicit intention.
Display inconsistent behavior driven by mood rather than strategy.
Struggle to maintain healthy and effective boundaries.
Embracing a New Leadership Performance
To meet the needs and desires of our audience, we need to:
Map Out Key Qualities: Identify the specific actions that embody what our audience desires—strategic vulnerability, transparency, honesty, curiosity, collaboration, and more.
Create an Action Plan: Use these identified actions to develop a clear roadmap for transitioning to this new leadership style.
Effective Actions of Vulnerability
Performance isn’t about pretending to be something you’re not. Performance is about breaking down and performing the observable actions which communicate to our audience our desired intent. So, let’s break down effective vulnerability. What does it look like, feel like, and sound like? Here are some key actions:
Share Personal Experiences: Use relevant stories to illustrate lessons or values. Be mindful of the context and the impact you want your story to have. Find the balance between professional and personal by keeping your communication intentional and purposeful, not random or impulsive.
Admit Mistakes and Ask for Feedback: Show you’re willing to learn and grow by acknowledging errors and demonstrating accountability. Engage with your team by confessing uncertainties, seeking their input, and acting on their suggestions.
Perform Guided Transparency: Be transparent about decisions, challenges, and processes, while maintaining professional boundaries. Ensure that transparency is constructive and directed toward achieving organizational goals.
Create a Safe Environment: Foster a culture where team members feel comfortable sharing their vulnerabilities. Model clear boundaries between personal and professional life, and practice self-care to promote a healthy work-life balance.
By performing these actions, leaders can create a more meaningful and effective connection with their audience. This approach ensures leadership remains genuine, professional, goal-oriented, and, yes, performative.
Conclusion
Traditional performative leadership is losing its edge, but abandoning performance isn’t the answer. Instead, let’s embrace a new kind of performance that blends sincerity, vulnerability, and transparency. By identifying and performing specific actions, leaders can create a roadmap for strategic vulnerability and genuine connection. This balanced approach addresses the needs and desires of our audience, leading to more effective and impactful leadership.