Empowerment Is a System, Not a Slogan
Empowering your team isn't about saying the right things—it's about building the right systems. Approach empowerment as a design challenge.
Engineering Leader
Authenticity Broke the Rules—and Built Real Leadership
Nicolas Cava
Edited onEdited on Jul 27, 2025
Reading timeReading time: 1 minute
I broke the rules of leadership by choosing authenticity over image.
I've been public about my vulnerabilities. I don't hide the hard stuff.
It comes at a cost:
- It bruises my ego
- It gives fuel to critics
- It risks rejection, cancellation, or being misunderstood
But here's what I gained:
- Trust. Real, human connection
- Feedback loops that actually help me grow
- Psychological safety that encourages bold, thoughtful risks
- Resilience—not just in me, but in those around me
- Innovation—because I don't pretend to have all the answers
- A culture rooted in compassion, not control
- Deep, personal connections that outlast titles and org charts
Notice something? The costs are all about me. The benefits are all about you.
And that's what leadership is really about. It's not about control. It's about empowerment.
The moments I'm proudest of aren't metrics or milestones. They're the quiet DMs from people who say, "That post? I needed it."
So let me ask you: What fear is stopping you from leading with your full self?
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