Fake it till you make it. It is one of the most widely repeated pieces of career advice. Smile with confidence, nod along, and pretend you know what you are doing until you actually do. It might work if you are learning a new skill or trying to overcome self-doubt in a low-stakes situation. But for leadership? I think it is terrible advice.
Leaders who fake it are not fooling anyone. Pretending to be confident, knowledgeable, or in control when you are not, does not inspire trust, it erodes it. And it is unprofessional.
People can tell when their leader is posturing. They might not say it outright, but they notice. And when they do, they stop relying on that leader for guidance.
Leadership is not about projecting an image of competence at all costs. It is about clarity, integrity, and making decisions based on reality, not appearances. A leader who fakes confidence instead of admitting gaps in their knowledge risks making poor decisions, damaging credibility, and losing the trust of their team.
Why fake leadership ultimately fails
There are a host of reasons why “faking it” does not work in leadership. I will share the top three; feel free to add more in the comments.
1. Leaders need trust, not pretense
Leadership is a relationship. A leader’s authority does not come from their title. It comes from the trust they build with their team.
People follow leaders they believe in, not leaders who put on a performance.
Despite what we are seeing in the news lately.
When leaders pretend to have all the answers, they miss the opportunity to build trust by being honest. A leader who can say, I do not have the answer, but I will find out, earns more respect than one who bluffs their way through.
Teams do not expect perfection. They expect clarity, consistency, and integrity. A leader who is real, even in moments of uncertainty, is far more effective than one who is performing leadership rather than practicing it. Performative leadership, where appearances matter more than substance, might work in short bursts, but over time, people see through it. And when they do, trust is gone. And leaders topple.
2. Confidence comes from competence, not pretending
There is a difference between stepping outside your comfort zone and outright faking it. Real confidence does not come from pretending to be capable; it comes from building actual competence.
Leaders who rely on faking it instead of developing real skills put themselves in a dangerous position.
Eventually, the gaps will show.
They will be caught in a situation where they need genuine expertise, and their lack of depth will become obvious. The fallout from that can be damaging not just for them but for the entire team or organisation.
Confidence grows from action.
Leaders become sure of themselves by making decisions, learning from mistakes, and improving over time.
That is not something that can be faked.
3. Faking it leads to poor decisions
When a leader pretends to have everything under control, they create an environment where uncertainty is hidden rather than addressed. This leads to poor decision-making because issues are not dealt with openly.
Instead of saying, I need more information before making this call, a leader who is faking confidence might rush into a decision just to maintain the illusion that they are in control. That is when problems spiral. Bad calls get made, risks are underestimated, and people who could have provided valuable insight are excluded from the conversation.
And we know that illusion is the most dangerous thing a leader can fall under.
What to do instead
If fake it till you make it is the wrong advice, what is a better approach? Effective leaders do not pretend. They don’t need to. This is what they do instead:
1. Own what you do not know
There is strength in admitting gaps in knowledge. A leader who says, I do not have all the answers, but I will find them, builds more credibility than one who pretends to know everything.
This is not about self-doubt or hesitancy. It is about being honest about where you are and committing to learning.
Leaders who acknowledge when they are in new territory and seek input from others create stronger teams and better outcomes. And leverage the team and wider knowledge better.
2. Build confidence through action
Confidence is not something you put on like a costume.
It comes from experience, from making decisions, from taking action and seeing results. From learning what worked and what didn’t and using that experience.
So, instead of trying to appear confident, focus on doing the work that actually builds confidence:
Ask the right questions. Surround yourself with people who challenge you. Make informed decisions and adjust when necessary.
The more you engage with real challenges, the more naturally confidence will follow.
3. Lead with clarity, not bravado
A leader’s job is not to have all the answers but to guide people toward the right ones. That does not require pretending. It requires clarity.
Instead of faking confidence, focus on creating clarity for yourself and your team.
Define the problem before jumping to a solution. Be honest about challenges and risks. Encourage input and make informed decisions.
When a leader is clear in their thinking and communication, they do not need to fake anything. Their presence alone creates confidence in those around them.
If you are tired of fake leaders and exhausted by the advice to fake it till you make it, take this as a reminder: the best leaders do not fake it.
They do not posture or pretend to be something they are not.
They build confidence through competence, earn trust by being real, and lead with clarity instead of illusion.
So yes, go ahead and fake it till you make it. Especially if you are aiming for a short-lived leadership run. Sooner or later, it will catch up with you. The truth has a way of doing that.
But if you are reading this, I know you are not that kind of leader. So keep reminding yourself of the kind of leader you want to be and do the opposite of what the fake ones do.
And as always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
Share this post