I Got To Be Me
Posted on May 29, 2025 by Neelima Chakara, One of Thousands of Executive Coaches on Noomii.
Can being authentic get in the way of having a growth mindset?
We started reading Wild Courage by Jenny Woods, in our book club.
The author speaks about wild courage to go after what you want and get it.
The book starts with the statement – ‘I got to be me’.
Such an inspiring and liberating statement in the context of the book. Speaking your mind, sharing your perspective confidently, and staying aligned with your values are crucial leadership skills. In being authentic, you bring the full weight of your experience, intuition, and perspective into your work. You stop trying to fit into boxes that were never built for you, and that inspires trust.
The opposite is to constantly second-guess yourself, go in the direction the wind is blowing, or merge with the background. It may feel like you are playing it safe, but this feeling of safety is an illusion. As the author says – Thrive as you or disappear as who?
On the other hand, it takes immense self-awareness and intentionality not to let this assertion of self become an excuse that keeps you in your comfort zone. If you find yourself in this zone, you might need a mindful pause to evaluate whether you are standing up for your values or being rigid while dealing with situations where your default behaviours do not support you.
Is ‘being me’ a facade for not dealing with what feels difficult? Is this facade not allowing you to be curious about alternate vantage points and options?
If you use the following assertions not to try something different, it might be a sign that ‘being me’ is limiting rather than liberating you –
• This is how I always do things
• That’s just not me
• I have never done it
• I am not going to change myself because …
Remember the famous saying – what got you here won’t get you there!
The version of ‘me’ that got you this far may not be enough to take you where you want to go next.
A leader I worked with had built a reputation as a highly analytical and detail-oriented problem solver. His execution excellence and action-oriented approach served him well and earned him a more strategic role that required him to manage and influence stakeholders. At first, he felt like a fish out of water. He considered conversations a waste of time. He preferred receiving high-level goals and executing them flawlessly against all odds. He wanted to solve problems instead of spending time talking about them, he said. But over time, he understood that he was not betraying himself by learning new skills but expanding who he could be. Learning to understand and influence stakeholders has made him a more impactful leader.
Authenticity is not the same as rigidity. It’s not about limiting yourself to a version of you. True authenticity includes growth. It allows room for reflection, discomfort, and change. It means asking, “What does the next chapter of my leadership require of me?” — and being willing to stretch in response.
After all, the real liberation lies in knowing that you can honor who you are and work to become more than you ever imagined.
