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Notebook and Fountain Pen

Performative Leadership vs. Authentic Leadership: The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher

Writer's picture: Jice JohnsonJice Johnson

Leadership is far more than a title or position—it’s a responsibility rooted in clarity, courage, and conviction. Authentic leadership demands that we get fundamentally clear on our values, define our boundaries, and commit to guiding others toward meaningful and equitable outcomes. It’s not about appearances—it’s about integrity in action.


Performative leadership, however, tells a different story. It’s a hollow display of leadership, often designed to cater to public sentiment while avoiding real accountability. Nowhere is this more evident than in the growing rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives by organizations that, just a few years ago, loudly pledged to champion equity. Under pressure during the 2020 social justice movement, these organizations made sweeping, grandiose promises to advance inclusion, invest in underrepresented communities, and build equitable workplaces. Yet, the moment the social and political climate shifted, those promises evaporated.


This is performative leadership at its core. These leaders put on a show when it was convenient, but when equity became politically inconvenient, they abandoned their commitments. Their actions weaken trust in corporate intent. Their pledges, once held up as markers of progress, now mean nothing. And the erosion of public trust that follows goes beyond their organizations—it spills into the broader social fabric, leaving people disillusioned about the possibility of systemic change.


The High Cost of Inauthentic Leadership

Performative leaders prioritize optics over outcomes. They are the CEOs who pull back funding for DEI initiatives, dissolve equity-focused committees, and sideline their commitments under pressure. These actions are not neutral—they are active choices that harm employees, communities, and the broader movement for equity.

Performative leadership is why so many organizations are now backpedaling on the progress they once pledged to champion. It’s why inequitable policies persist, why inconsistent messaging continues to alienate employees, and why incentives for meaningful change are replaced by punitive measures that uphold the status quo.


This is not leadership—it’s cowardice. And it is a disservice not only to the people directly impacted but also to the long-term health of these organizations. Stakeholders, employees, and communities deserve better.


Holding Performative Leaders Accountable

We are at a critical juncture where the social and economic advancements of the past few years are at risk of being undone. The only way forward is to hold performative leaders accountable, uproot them, and replace them with authentic leaders who stand firm in their values—even when it’s unpopular or difficult.


Authentic leadership doesn’t waver with the political winds. It doesn’t wait for legislation or social pressure to do the right thing. Authentic leaders commit to building equitable systems and upholding accountability across their organizations.


This includes:

  • Sustaining equitable efforts, even when they’re no longer trending or “politically safe.”

  • Ensuring transparency in organizational goals, metrics, and outcomes related to equity.

  • Making intentional decisions about hiring, purchasing, and governance that reflect a commitment to equity.


An Opportunity to Rebuild Trust

While these are undoubtedly trying times, they also present a powerful opportunity to rebuild our organizations - and communities - stronger and more unified than before.


Effective leadership is not about convenience or optics—it requires courage, consistency, and care.


As leaders, we have the power to shape organizations into engines of equity and impact. This requires a strong rejection of performative gestures and embracing authenticity. It requires standing firm in our values and leading by example. By doing so, we can restore trust in our institutions and build a future where equity isn’t a fleeting trend but a guiding principle.


The time to act is now. Reject performative leadership, rebuild trust, and commit to the work of creating a more equitable world—one intentional decision at a time.

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