Navigating Your Leadership Journey: Tailored Tips for Black Men in Mid-Level Roles
By Dominic George · June 7th 2025

Happy Saturday! Word Count: 1937…14.55 minutes. Copy edited by Dominic George

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Vision Leadership for Life newsletter, designed with the specific challenges faced by Black men in mid-level leadership positions in mind. We understand the unique journey you’re on, and our goal is to provide practical insights to help you thrive in your professional evolution. So, lets dive into today’s topic and Elevate Your Leadership.

Why Authenticity Isn’t Soft, It’s A Strategy

The hidden power of being real in leadership and life for Black men: In a world driven by polished images, curated personas, and relentless performance metrics, the idea of being authentic is often misunderstood. Too many Black male leaders treat authenticity like a bonus trait, something you sprinkle on top of your executive presence once you have achieved enough success to afford it. Others dismiss it altogether as a soft ideal, one that may earn you a few fans but never a seat at the table where real decisions are made.

That could not be further from the truth for Black men.

Authenticity is not soft. It is not optional. It is a strategy. And for Black men in leadership, it might be the most powerful one we have.

Let me explain why.

The Performance Trap: Who are you really leading? From the boardroom to the community center, I have witnessed Black male leaders burn themselves out trying to keep up appearances. They wear the right suit. They say the right words. They mirror the behaviors of leaders who came before them, hoping that imitation will open doors that authenticity cannot.

It works. Until it doesn’t.

Because when your leadership is built on performance, it demands constant upkeep. There is no room for vulnerability, no margin for error, no space to reflect. You end up performing leadership rather than embodying it.

That performance trap disproportionately affects Black men. We are often taught that our success depends on how well we can contort ourselves to fit dominant ideas of what leadership looks like. But what happens when those ideas were never designed with us in mind?

What happens is this: we become less of ourselves. We lead from a fractured place. And eventually, we lose the very thing that made us leaders in the first place.

Additional Tip for Black Men: Stop trying to outwork broken systems

The truth: You have been taught that working twice as hard is the only way forward. But no amount of effort can fix a structure that was not designed for your advancement.

Solution Shift: Move from hustle to intentional strategy. Pause and assess what is truly moving the needle. Redirect your energy toward building relationships, communicating your vision, and investing in spaces that reflect your worth. Strategy multiplies impact. Grind alone burns you out.

Why Authenticity Feels Risky

If being yourself was easy, everyone would do it. But the truth is, for Black leaders, authenticity feels like a risk. There is a constant fear that if we say what we really think, if we lead how we truly feel called to lead, we will be dismissed as angry, emotional, difficult, or unpolished.

I know this fear well. I have sat in rooms where I questioned whether I should speak from my truth or protect my opportunity. I have led teams while managing multiple identities, wondering if I could be respected without being reduced.

But I have also learned this: if your leadership requires you to shrink, silence, or split yourself, it will never be sustainable. And it will never be transformative.

The Strategic Power of Being Real

So what does it look like to treat authenticity as a strategy?

It starts with seeing authenticity not as something you do, but something you build. Strategic authenticity is about aligning your values, your voice, and your vision so that they reinforce each other and create momentum.

This is the core of what we teach at Vision Leadership for LIFE. Our coaching for Black men is not about teaching you how to play the game better. It is about helping you redefine the game altogether.

When you lead from authenticity, three powerful shifts happen:

1. You attract alignment, not just attention.
   Authentic leaders do not need to shout to be heard. They speak clearly and consistently from their values, which builds trust and attracts the right people. You stop chasing validation and start building vision-driven alignment.

2. You gain clarity in complexity.
   When you are clear on who you are, it becomes easier to navigate change, conflict, and complexity. You do not second guess every decision. You lead from a foundation of self-trust.

3. You create cultures, not silos.
   Authentic leaders are culture carriers. They give others permission to bring more of themselves to the table. That does not mean being unfiltered. It means being intentional. The energy you bring influences the energy others feel safe to bring.

From Impossible to Possible: A Leadership Model Rooted in Identity

Authenticity is not a buzzword. It is a leadership imperative. For Black men who have been conditioned to survive instead of thrive, reclaiming our authentic voice is revolutionary.

It is also incredibly strategic.

In our coaching framework at Vision Leadership for LIFE, we help Black leaders make a critical mindset shift. Instead of asking, How do I become what they want? We ask, How do I lead from who I already am?

We call this the Authentic Edge.

It is the edge that turns survival into strategy. It is the edge that turns pain into purpose. It is the edge that allows you to lead without losing yourself.

Three Anchors of Strategic Authenticity

1. Clarity of Self
   You cannot lead others if you are unclear on who you are. Clarity requires reflection, feedback, and sometimes unlearning. This means understanding your purpose beyond your position, your values beyond your title, and your worth beyond your resume.

2. Consistency of Voice
   Your leadership voice is not just how you talk in a meeting. It is how you show up in every room, every interaction, every decision. Consistency builds credibility. When your voice matches your values, you become a trustworthy presence in uncertain times.

3. Courage of Vision
   Strategic authenticity requires vision. It is not enough to be real. You have to be real on purpose. That means leading with intention. Making hard calls. And staying rooted in your why even when others doubt your how.

The Business Case for Authenticity

Let’s be clear. Authentic leadership is not just morally right. It is measurably effective.

Companies led by authentic leaders see higher retention, deeper trust, more engaged teams, and more resilient cultures. Leaders who show up with empathy and clarity outperform those who rely on authority and posturing.

Authenticity scales because it is rooted in truth. And truth, no matter how inconvenient, is magnetic.

What Keeps Us From Leading Authentically?

There are real barriers to authenticity. Fear of judgment. Fear of failure. The trauma of past environments that punished vulnerability. And for Black men, the very real risk of being perceived as unprofessional for showing emotion, or soft for showing compassion.

That is why coaching matters. That is why community matters. You do not have to figure this out alone.

Strategic authenticity is not about perfection. It is about practice. It is about learning how to show up with more truth, more alignment, and more impact every day.

Additional Tip for Black Men: Stop carrying it all alone. 

The truth: The myth of the strong, solo Black man has created a culture of silent suffering. Leadership becomes isolation dressed as strength.

Solution Shift: Build circles that strengthen your purpose: Surround yourself with people who see you fully and support your growth. Mentors, coaches, peers, and partners are essential to sustainable leadership. Community is not weakness. It is protection, reflection, and expansion.

Closing Thoughts:

In summary, in this moment, when the world is asking for change, when organizations are hungry for leadership that feels real, and when communities are tired of being overpromised and underserved, your authenticity is not a liability. It is your greatest asset.

Real is not soft. Real is solid. Real is strategic.

Lead from there. This is a call to lead with truth.

If you are reading this and thinking, I want to lead from a place of truth, but I do not know where to start, you are not alone.

Start here.

Start by reflecting on where you feel most split between who you are and how you lead. By getting clear on the values that are non-negotiable in your leadership. Naming the spaces where your authenticity has been dimmed and deciding how you want to reclaim it. In addition to building your leadership around you, not around someone else’s expectations of what you should be.

And if you need support, know that Vision Leadership for LIFE is here to walk that journey with you.

That’s the new path forward.

Subscribe to the Vision Leadership for LIFE newsletter now for early access, if you want the insider guidebook before it drops, exclusive insights, and first access when pre-orders go live.

Fellas, your journey is both unique and powerful. If you’re ready to start leading from your authentic edge, then your on the roadmap for greatness. When you’re leading from within, you are not only advancing your career but also paving the way for future leaders.

Feel free to reach out for personalized coaching or share your success stories.

Your success is our shared triumph.

Real Talk: If you’re ready to:

• Reclaim your voice in high-stakes spaces.

• Lead with strategy, not survival.

• Build a legacy that doesn’t require you to perform to belong.

You don’t have to lose yourself to lead. You just have to reclaim who you are, and lead from there.

Have a POWERFUL Day!

Dominic George

Founder, Vision Leadership for LIFE, LLC

Intellectual Property Notice:
© 2025 Vision Leadership for LIFE, LLC. All rights reserved.
The content, concepts, and original expressions in this newsletter are the exclusive intellectual property of Dominic George and Vision Leadership for LIFE, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without prior written permission. This newsletter is intended for personal development and leadership growth. Respect the work. Honor the source.

The Authentic Edge™ framework and related materials are proprietary to Vision Leadership for LIFE, LLC.