I thought constantly adapting to company cultures meant I had no authentic self.
Turns out, adaptability IS my authentic self.
🔄 I thought constantly adapting to company cultures meant I had no authentic self. Turns out, adaptability IS my authentic self. Here's how I stopped apologizing for being a chameleon.
#AuthenticLeadership #Adaptability
Just got promoted to VP of Marketing after being told for years I was "too flexible" and lacked "consistent personal brand." Plot twist: my shapeshifting became my superpower. #d20Coach
As a shapeshifter, I've always adapted to my environment:
• Startup culture? Became scrappy, move-fast marketer
• Corporate environment? Transformed into process-driven strategist
• Creative agency? Shifted to collaborative, artistic approach
• Tech company? Evolved into data-driven growth hacker
Every performance review: "Great results, but who are you really?"
I started believing something was wrong with me. Other leaders seemed to have consistent "personal brands" while I felt like a professional impostor, constantly changing to fit in.
The breaking point came when my manager said, "We need someone with a stronger sense of self for this VP role."
That's when I found Nick from @d20Coach.
BEFORE COACHING:
• Believed adaptability meant I lacked authenticity
• Tried to force a "consistent" personality across all contexts
• Saw my flexibility as weakness, not strength
• Felt guilty about changing approaches between companies
AFTER COACHING:
• Learned that adaptability IS my authentic superpower
• Started owning my ability to read and respond to organizational needs
• Positioned flexibility as leadership strength, not character flaw
• Built "shapeshifting" into my professional brand
Nick's game-changer: "What if you're not losing yourself when you adapt? What if you're revealing different authentic parts of yourself that the situation needs?"
Boom. Wow.
Instead of fighting my nature, I leaned into it. My new approach:
• Market myself as "culturally intelligent" leader
• Highlight ability to bridge different teams and contexts
• Position adaptability as change management superpower
• Own the fact that I bring out what organizations need most
Results:
• Promoted to VP within 6 months of mindset shift
• Became go-to leader for cross-cultural team integration
• Speaking at conferences on "Adaptive Leadership"
The secret? I don't lose myself when I adapt. I reveal the parts of myself that serve the moment.
To my fellow chameleons: your adaptability isn't a bug. It's your feature. In a world of rapid change, leaders who can shape-shift are exactly what organizations need.
Stop apologizing for being flexible. Start capitalizing on it.
#Adaptability #ShapeshifterLeadership #ChangeManagement #CulturalIntelligence #AuthenticSelf #d20Coach #FlexibleLeadership
Luna Shapeweaver
VP of Marketing | Adaptive Solutions Corp
"Bringing out what organizations need most"
Professional Shapeshifter | d20Coach Player
Stepping out of character: I'm Nick, and I work with a lot of leaders who think their adaptability makes them "inconsistent" or "inauthentic." The truth? In our rapidly changing world, the ability to read context and respond appropriately is one of the most valuable leadership skills. If you've been told you're "too flexible" or struggle with imposter syndrome because you show up differently in different environments, let's talk.
Ready to own your adaptability as a superpower? Schedule a free coaching conversation at d20.coach.
