Last week I spoke with a client who confessed she hadn’t done anything to raise her profile in months.

The reason? She couldn’t find any personal stories “authentic enough” to share alongside her pioneering research.

I sat with that for a moment.

Here was a brilliant mind withholding game-changing ideas because she couldn’t pair them with the “right” personal revelation.

It’s a mistake I see unfold a lot, especially among brilliant (and busy) business owners with important expertise to share.

They stall. Hesitate. Overthink every post or email.

Why? Because they’ve bought into what I call the “authenticity myth”. The belief that to be compelling in a digital world, you first have to remove every boundary between your work and your personal life.

This isn’t about being genuine, it’s about feeling pressured to share personal details that can often distract from your actual expertise and message.

Let me be clear: I’m not suggesting you become robotic or inauthentic.

But there’s a profound difference between sharing with a clear intention and sharing because you feel obligated to reveal your innermost world.

I think this starts because we often ask the wrong question.

We fall into the trap of asking “Am I being authentic?”, rather than “Am I making a valuable contribution?”.

Let’s look at the actual definition of authentic for a moment.

According to the dictionary it is: “of undisputed origin and not a copy; genuine”.

Nowhere does it mention oversharing your personal life or emotional state.

Feeling authentic matters deeply, but making a genuine contribution matters more. I would rather you show up with the intention of make a passionately imperfect contribution, than wait for the right personal anecdote to share your ideas.

So how do we swap our focus from ‘being authentic’ to ‘being intentional’?

Here’s a fast framework that transformed how I approach visibility and authority.

When you next feel the authenticity trap kick in, ask these three powerful questions:

1. What is my intention? Rather than waste time and energy worrying about how to show up, instead first focus on sharing your intention. If we believe in your ‘why’ – why you do this, why you’re sharing this information, why it matters – then we usually pay little attention to the ‘how’.
2. What will bring it to life? There’s a world of difference between being authentic and making an impact. Before sharing, ask: “Why am I sharing this? Does it help bring my intention to life?” If a personal story serves the message, then absolutely tell it – but from a place of purpose, not obligation.
3. What is my unique lens? What is it about your background or experience that gives you a unique lens on this subject. What’s your bold perspective? What mission are you driven to create? The leaders we follow aren’t just authentic – they’re driven by impact.

When intention, expertise and contribution come together – it creates one of the most powerful forces on earth.

The most compelling thought leaders aren’t those who choose to share every corner of their lives on social media.

They’re the ones who choose to contribute their expertise, mission and insights with the courage of knowing it’s never perfect.

That’s not about being authentic – it’s about being impactful.

And impact is what truly matters.