Craig Groeschel

Massive problem in leadership. So many leaders don't want to be themselves. They hide, they withdraw. When you stop being real, you stop being relatable. For example, I was doing a message on the weekend for our church recently. And when I tell you I got lost, I just got lost. I couldn't remember what came next. I was like a long way from my notes and I just stopped and I froze.

Massive problem in leadership. So many leaders don't want to be themselves. They hide, they withdraw. When you stop being real, you stop being relatable. For example, I was doing a message on the weekend for our church recently. And when I tell you I got lost, I just got lost. I couldn't remember what came next. I was like a long way from my notes and I just stopped and I froze.

Massive problem in leadership. So many leaders don't want to be themselves. They hide, they withdraw. When you stop being real, you stop being relatable. For example, I was doing a message on the weekend for our church recently. And when I tell you I got lost, I just got lost. I couldn't remember what came next. I was like a long way from my notes and I just stopped and I froze.

I was so embarrassed. I was like, um... I forgot where I was going. And it was just like, I never do that. I'm always prepared and I was prepared and I got lost and I was so embarrassed. And after that, I thought everybody's gonna make fun of me. You know what people said? They're like, oh my gosh, my favorite part was when you got lost. You should do that more often. That was amazing.

I was so embarrassed. I was like, um... I forgot where I was going. And it was just like, I never do that. I'm always prepared and I was prepared and I got lost and I was so embarrassed. And after that, I thought everybody's gonna make fun of me. You know what people said? They're like, oh my gosh, my favorite part was when you got lost. You should do that more often. That was amazing.

I was so embarrassed. I was like, um... I forgot where I was going. And it was just like, I never do that. I'm always prepared and I was prepared and I got lost and I was so embarrassed. And after that, I thought everybody's gonna make fun of me. You know what people said? They're like, oh my gosh, my favorite part was when you got lost. You should do that more often. That was amazing.

Like you're human. I felt so connected to you. I'm like going... I don't even understand you right now. They loved it. They loved the fact that I was just transparent, was just completely real. And I have to remind myself, it's like trying to project this image of perfection. It's silly, it's shallow, it's stupid. And I say it, but I didn't always believe it.

Like you're human. I felt so connected to you. I'm like going... I don't even understand you right now. They loved it. They loved the fact that I was just transparent, was just completely real. And I have to remind myself, it's like trying to project this image of perfection. It's silly, it's shallow, it's stupid. And I say it, but I didn't always believe it.

Like you're human. I felt so connected to you. I'm like going... I don't even understand you right now. They loved it. They loved the fact that I was just transparent, was just completely real. And I have to remind myself, it's like trying to project this image of perfection. It's silly, it's shallow, it's stupid. And I say it, but I didn't always believe it.

And that is this, that people would rather follow a leader who's always real than one who's always right. You don't have to be perfect, just be real. People wanna connect with you as a person, not just like the image of this great flawless leader, but they really wanna connect with you as a person, so bring your real self. Second problem is this, transparency builds trust,

And that is this, that people would rather follow a leader who's always real than one who's always right. You don't have to be perfect, just be real. People wanna connect with you as a person, not just like the image of this great flawless leader, but they really wanna connect with you as a person, so bring your real self. Second problem is this, transparency builds trust,

And that is this, that people would rather follow a leader who's always real than one who's always right. You don't have to be perfect, just be real. People wanna connect with you as a person, not just like the image of this great flawless leader, but they really wanna connect with you as a person, so bring your real self. Second problem is this, transparency builds trust,

Pretense breaks it, right? Transparency, even if you're like going, yeah, I don't feel very confident, whatever. Transparency builds trust, but pretense breaks trust. And we have to remember that to do anything meaningful, anything significant, anything lasting, if we're gonna do it with other leaders, we have to have trust. And you cannot have trust without connection.

Pretense breaks it, right? Transparency, even if you're like going, yeah, I don't feel very confident, whatever. Transparency builds trust, but pretense breaks trust. And we have to remember that to do anything meaningful, anything significant, anything lasting, if we're gonna do it with other leaders, we have to have trust. And you cannot have trust without connection.

Pretense breaks it, right? Transparency, even if you're like going, yeah, I don't feel very confident, whatever. Transparency builds trust, but pretense breaks trust. And we have to remember that to do anything meaningful, anything significant, anything lasting, if we're gonna do it with other leaders, we have to have trust. And you cannot have trust without connection.

You cannot have connection without vulnerability. Let me say it again. To do anything significant with other leaders, we have to trust one another. But you can't have trust without connection. and you can't have connection without vulnerability. So without vulnerability, having like a real sincere, meaningful connection, it's impossible.

You cannot have connection without vulnerability. Let me say it again. To do anything significant with other leaders, we have to trust one another. But you can't have trust without connection. and you can't have connection without vulnerability. So without vulnerability, having like a real sincere, meaningful connection, it's impossible.

You cannot have connection without vulnerability. Let me say it again. To do anything significant with other leaders, we have to trust one another. But you can't have trust without connection. and you can't have connection without vulnerability. So without vulnerability, having like a real sincere, meaningful connection, it's impossible.

And again, we think that people are impressed by like how smart we are, how talented we are, how capable we are, how strong we are. And we have to remember this. We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with them through our weaknesses. So be yourself.

And again, we think that people are impressed by like how smart we are, how talented we are, how capable we are, how strong we are. And we have to remember this. We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with them through our weaknesses. So be yourself.