Tuesday's Talk

Tuesday’s Talk: Leadership Truths & Inner Alignment

“We have rejected our own culture and traditions, yet without investigation we accept the world of others as truth.”


— Iyanla Vanzant

In an era dominated by data, fast-moving trends, and external validation, Vanzant’s words invite us to pause and re-evaluate the lens through which we interpret truth—both personally and professionally.

Let’s begin by centering ourselves:

Take a moment to breathe deeply...
Inhale clarity…
Exhale distraction…
Again…
Now, be here—fully present.

As a Professional Certified Coach, I often work with leaders, creatives, and change agents who struggle with a powerful tension: the dissonance between inner truth and external expectation. In leadership, authenticity is currency—but what happens when we aren’t clear on what’s true for us?

How do you define truth?
And more importantly, whose truth have you been living?

According to Merriam-Webster, truth encompasses “a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality,” and “sincerity in action, character, and utterance.”

But in leadership, truth isn’t only conceptual—it’s deeply operational. It shows up in the boardroom, in strategic decisions, in stakeholder relationships, and in how we build trust.

Reflection prompts:

• What is your personal truth as a leader, creator, or influencer?

• On a scale of 1 to 10, how open are you to alternative perspectives—especially those that challenge your worldview?

• Where in your leadership journey might you be defaulting to inherited narratives instead of cultivating your own?

Vanzant also offers this poignant reminder in Acts of Faith:

“When we close any portion of our minds, we close off part of the world.”

In today’s globally interconnected, yet increasingly polarized environment, mental agility and emotional courage are competitive advantages. Leaders who can sit with truth—without needing to control or edit it—stand apart.

What truth have you been avoiding because it feels disruptive, inconvenient, or even dangerous?


Psychologist and author Gay Hendricks calls this The Dangerous Truth—not because truth itself is harmful, but because our resistance to it creates dysfunction. As he says:

“The idea of telling the truth seems dangerous to many people, but it is actually only dangerous if you resist it.”

In executive coaching sessions, I often challenge clients with two deceptively simple questions:

• What are you resisting right now?

• What have you told yourself to justify not speaking the truth?

Leadership without truth becomes performance. And performance, no matter how polished, eventually collapses under the weight of inauthenticity.

Today’s Challenge: The Truth Experiment
From A Year of Living Consciously by Gay Hendricks:


As you move through your day, notice your moments of truth-telling—or avoidance.

Where do you filter, soften, or sidestep to keep the peace or maintain control?

Try this leadership conversation starter:


“I feel __________ when __________. Do you ever experience that?”


This simple sentence builds emotional literacy and opens space for authentic dialogue in teams, partnerships, and even client engagements.

Final reflection:

“To reach that end goal you and I must be willing to be straightforward with one another. We must be willing and prepared to stare at ourselves in the mirror and speak the truth.”
— Mark Devro

What are you willing to do this week to align your leadership with your truth?


What one conversation, if initiated today, could shift your trajectory?

Don’t underestimate the ripple effect of authenticity. Be the leader who inspires it.

You got this!

Coach Tavia, PCC, MSEd

Let’s build a brave conversation space.
Drop a comment below:

• What resonated most with you?

• What truth are you exploring right now?

• How do you integrate truth into your leadership practice?

#LeadershipTruth #ExecutiveCoaching #AuthenticLeadership #InnerWork #EmotionalAgility #SelfAwareness #GrowthMindset #ConsciousLeadership #StrategicInfluence #LeadWithPurpose #PersonalDevelopment #CoachTavia #TruthMatters #ThinkForYourself #DoTheWork #ElevateLeadership #HumanCenteredLeadership #TruthInBusiness