I don’t know about you, but I go through phases watching documentaries and lately I’ve been deep in them.

Maybe it’s the cold weather here in Victoria and wanting to hang out inside where it its cosy and warm.

That aside, last weekend I watched the Kylie Minogue documentary and what stood out to me was how clear she seemed about what mattered to her.

You may or may not know that early in her career Kylie was very much shaped by other people’s expectations. The image, the direction, and many of the decisions about her career were created around her rather than by her. For a while she went along with it. But as her career progressed, she became clearer on who she was, what she valued, and the kind of artist she wanted to be. And the more connected she became? The greater her impact.

The people around her contributed to this too. Whether it was family, trusted advisers, or collaborators such as musician and songwriter Nick Cave, they encouraged her to play to her strengths, trust her instincts and back herself.

I’m sure you’d agree there are some similarities with Kylie’s story and leadership. If you are a leader or in a position of influence, the pressure to be all things to all people is enormous. And that pressure, if you let it, can really do a number on your self-esteem and confidence. You start making decisions based on what you think others expect rather than what you actually believe. You second guess yourself. You start hiding the very things that make you effective, unique and different.

But when you know who you are and have the right people around you, things get a lot easier. The more connected you are to yourself the less energy you spend trying to be someone else. Your decisions become clearer. You stop exhausting yourself trying to be someone you’re not. You become more consistent, more confident, and more comfortable in your own skin. Your team, your peers and those spending time with you notice. They see someone they can count on, which as you and I both know builds trust.

Or in the case of a pop star like Kylie Minogue a loyal fan base!

Kylie Minogue’s journey to get to this level of assurance and self-belief undoubtedly took some time. Building that kind of clarity and confidence often does. The good news is it doesn’t have to take a decade. In fact, it doesn’t even have to take a year. You can start connecting with who you are and what you want to bring to your leadership by exploring three simple but powerful questions:

1. Who am I and what do I stand for?
2. What am I hiding or holding back that I could actually be leaning into?
3. Who do I have around me who is honest with me and will encourage me to be myself?

You don’t need perfect answers. You just need a willingness to explore them. Because the more connected you are to who you are, the easier it becomes to make decisions with confidence, build meaningful relationships, and lead in a way that feels natural and right for you.

Having a trusted coach, mentor, or sounding board can help accelerate that process.

As always, I trust this has got you thinking and has been helpful in some way, shape or form.

Until next week, be well and lead well

Kylie

PS – The Connect Effect is now on Pre-Sale. If you would like to grab a copy for yourself or a leader in your world, click on this link.(opens in new tab)