“Authenticity” does not mean “oversharing”

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Leaders and spokespeople are often given the advice to be “authentic”, but what does that actually mean?

Without guidance, some leaders mistake authenticity for oversharing: saying too much, speculating under pressure, or explaining themselves into trouble. That doesn’t build trust—it weakens it. Coached authenticity looks different.

It helps leaders:
🔵Communicate honestly without disclosing what shouldn’t be shared
🔵Show humanity while maintaining authority
🔵Express uncertainty without creating risk
🔵Align tone, message, and responsibility in public moments

Authenticity in communication is a skill, and like any skill, it needs coaching. This matters because employees, customers, and the media don’t judge companies by intent – they judge them by how leaders communicate under scrutiny.

When leaders aren’t coached, authenticity becomes inconsistent, risky, and reactive. When they are, it becomes a reliable trust signal. That’s why organizations that care about reputation, culture, and credibility invest in coaching leaders not just to speak – but to communicate authentically, with great structure and good judgment.

Style Contrast - Learning from two different leaders

By Michael Melling • September 15, 2026
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Who do you trust?

By Michael Melling • September 15, 2026
Two new reports highlight the latest Canadian media trust scores Two recent reports paint different pictures of the level of trust Canadians place in the news media. Pollara’s 4 th annual “Trust in Media” study says 51% of Canadians tend to trust the media, which is higher than the previous years they’ve done the study – 44% in 2002 and 47% in 1992. Trust levels are highest among seniors, as well as Liberal and NDP voters. Compare this to the 2026 Reuters Institute’s research report that finds only 37% of Canadians have trust in the news overall compared to 55% in 2016. It also found that just 12% of Canadians pay for news online, and that social media and news websites have overtaken traditional news sources. So, what does this mean for your organization? It’s about ensuring you’re trusted, even if the platform you find yourself on isn’t. Talk about trust in media is nothing new, and it’s clear that levels of trust vary depending on the audience. It’s about coaching your leaders to go beyond message control, and to communicate with credibility in a potentially low-trust environment. This means being comfortable and confident in explaining evidence in plain language, acknowledging uncertainty, clearly distinguishing facts from narratives, and correcting misleading assertions while engaging legitimate criticism. Success is more than positive media coverage or message consistency – it’s about creating long-term trust and confidence in your organization, and supporting your leaders and spokespeople in building it.

Three red flags you're not ready for that news interview or big presentation

By Michael Melling • July 6, 2026
Common issues ahead of important communication opportunities:  1. You don’t have a clear key message If someone asks you: “What’s the one thing you want listeners to remember?” and you can’t answer in 15-30 seconds, you’re not ready. 2. You’ve memorized talking points, but can’t explain them naturally If you’re focused on memorizing scripts and key phrases, you’re more likely to struggle if you forget or get taken off track. You need the confidence to trust yourself in the conversation. 3. You don’t have a strategy for responding to tough questions If you’re planning to wing it, that’s a problem. You need to anticipate the tough questions and practice bridging to your key message – naturally and authentically. Strategy and structure are key building blocks of confidence going into any important communication opportunity. You must know the point you want to get across, know how to keep on track, and have the confidence to respond authentically in the moment.