When I Thought Preparation Meant Perfection 

I had just started working for a new manager and I was preparing for a large stakeholder presentation. I really wanted to show up well to all of my stakeholders and my new manager. I put in hours of work creating my PowerPoint deck, ensuring that all of the details were there and accurate. I developed my talking track, practiced, and did everything I thought “professional Jessica” was supposed to do. 

The call felt…awkward. Forced. I was trying hard to be professional, to get all of my facts straight, and show up well. It was exhausting. It sucked all the energy out of me. I felt I stumbled over my words even with all the prep work, and by the end, I did not feel confident that my message landed at all. I hoped my manager would see something different.  

She didn’t. When we met afterward, she looked at me and said, “Why are you trying so hard to not be yourself?” I paused. This was not the question I expected. Inside my head I was thinking,…Well, you see, there is work Jessica and out-of-work Jessica. I am in fact, a Gemini, ya know. But instead, I just said, “What do you mean?” 

She described the Jessica she knew, funny, energetic, engaging, and then she described the Jessica who showed up at the presentation: monotone, stiff, and trying way too hard. I asked her if she really thought I should be myself when presenting. I had never even considered bringing humor or energy into a work presentation. She also told me my details were boring and needed to be upleveled for a broader audience and easier consumption. 

Oddly… all of this felt exciting. It felt like permission. 

The Presentation Where I Finally Showed Up as Me 

An opportunity came along where I was asked to present to a large group in an auditorium type setting on a recent project I delivered. I was excited and nervous. This would be the largest group I ever spoke in front of and one of the biggest projects of my career, one I had led and delivered with a full v-team. This time, I decided to lean on my manager’s feedback. 

I wrote the speech and built the deck, but I did things differently.  In my speech, I used the same language I’d use talking to a friend. I used my everyday voice, and I even added a few jokes in to make it feel like mine. My deck was simple and I did not drown people in technical details. I kept it light weight and easy to consume.  

I practiced and recorded myself. I watched my posture, my hands, my “umms” and “likes,” and my overall style. It felt different from any other presentation I had ever prepared for and honestly, the prep felt good. It felt more authentic. 

When it was time to present, I somehow managed to keep my vomit down in the bathroom (nerves are real) and walked out there anyway. The first minute was hard, really hard, and then something shifted. I felt fine. Then I felt good. Then I felt… comfortable. Is that even possible? Hands went up at the end, and I received great questions from an engaged audience. I nailed it.  

 My Leadership Lesson 

Presenting as my everyday self felt so much more comfortable than trying to be “professional.” The version of me who showed up in those two presentations was entirely different. I realized I performed better when I showed up as my authentic self. I never knew I could bring the quirky me, the silly me, the weird me into a work setting. I thought I had to be work Jessica and out‑of‑work Jessica, I didn’t know they could be the same person. 

This was a huge revelation. I learned I could operate from a more authentic place, and honestly, who doesn’t want that? When you show up as your true self, you deliver your best work. 

I realized the most powerful version of me wasn’t the perfect one, it was the honest, unfiltered one who could show up as my true self, quirks, nerves, and all. Leadership is being true to yourself, and that’s what allows you to do your best work. 

Call to Action 

If you’ve ever felt like you had to polish yourself into what you thought to be “professional,” consider this your reminder: your real strength lives in the version of you that isn’t performing. The version that’s your honest, true self. 

• Take a moment today and check in with yourself: 
  • Where am I still trying to be perfect? 
  • Where am I editing myself to fit in? 
• What would shift if I showed up as my real self instead? 

 Leadership doesn’t begin when you finally get everything right. It begins the moment you start being true to yourself. The world needs the real you, quirks, nerves, brilliance and all! 

With love, leadership, and belief in yourself. You got this! 

💖 Jessica