9 keys to authentic leadership – with direction, courage and colour
Introduction
Have you ever longed to stand more firmly in yourself – to lead with clarity, courage and purpose – but felt that self-doubt is holding you back?
This post is for you who carry big visions but still hesitate. For you who want to lead with heart, but sometimes get stuck in your head. And for you who know that change isn’t always about giant leaps – but about taking one small step in the right direction.
I want to show you a place to start: a colourful, human, and sustainable framework I call CONFIDENT.
It’s not about becoming someone else. It’s about coming closer to yourself.
When courage feels out of reach
Have you ever felt like you want more – but still don’t take the leap?
That there’s a longing within you for change – something bigger, something more meaningful… …and yet, doubt quietly creeps in.
What if I can't do it?
Who do I think I am?
It’s probably not the right time right now.
You're not alone.
Many of the women I meet in my work as a coach and leadership developer carry bold visions. They want to make a difference. To influence. To do something meaningful – for their team, for society, or in their own lives.
But at the same time, they struggle to believe in their own capacity. They often prioritise others' needs over their own. They hesitate, overthink, and get stuck.
I know – because I’ve been there myself.
And what I’ve learned is this:
You don’t need to take a giant leap to start making a change.
One step is enough. A small step, taken with the right intention.
But it does ask something of you.
It asks you to lead yourself – with clarity, courage, and care.
What does it really mean to be “confident”?
Self-assured. Brave. Clear.
It’s easy to believe that a confident person always knows what to say, never hesitates, never doubts herself.
But that’s not the kind of “confidence” I’m talking about.
The word confident is often translated as “self-assured” – but in Swedish, that translation doesn’t quite capture the full depth. In English, confident carries something more: a sense of inner steadiness, courage, trust in oneself, and the ability to act even when you don’t have all the answers – not just being “sure of yourself.”
Here in Sweden, we don’t have a single word that fully reflects what confident means. confident means. But we get close – through a handful of powerful phrases that, together, capture the depth:
- Grounded in yourself – the kind of stability and self-awareness that allows you to act even in uncertainty.
- Self-leading – a powerful word that highlights responsibility and the ability to direct your own course.
- Brave and rooted – the combination of stepping forward and staying anchored in your values.
- Inner strength – quiet but strong, a force that carries you through the storm.
- Radiating from within – a poetic way of describing the light that shines when we live in alignment with who we are.
Together, these reflect what confident means to me: not surface-level boldness, but deep inner anchoring.
So when I use the word confident, I don’t mean a polished facade – A way of standing steadily in yourself, even in the fragile moments. I’m talking about an internal experience.
To me, confident leadership isn’t about being loud or perfect.
It’s something much deeper:
Being in alignment with yourself.
Staying close to your inner compass – and daring to follow it, even when it’s hard.
Knowing what matters, and acting in accordance with that.
In my podcast Confident Leadership. In Colour., I share a story from one of those pivotal moments.
I had just walked out of a leadership training in Stockholm and was sitting in the cloakroom, tears welling up, with a threatening call from my then-manager still ringing in my ears.
Part of me wanted to run.
But something else – a quiet, determined voice – whispered:
“Stay. You know what’s right for you.”
That day, I made a choice that changed how I see authentic leadership.
I didn’t choose the safe path.
I chose the true one.
And now, many years later, I see that this was when a small seed was planted – the very beginning of what is now the CONFIDENT framework: A framework for building inner steadiness, courage, and direction.
Not by becoming someone else –
but by daring to become more of who you already are.
That’s why I created CONFIDENT – a framework for authentic leadership
I wanted to create something that holds up in real life. Not a framework that asks you to perform more, push harder, or become someone else – but one that starts with what’s already within you.
CONFIDENT is for you who want to build confidence from the inside out. Who want to lead with heart and clarity. Who know there’s more to unlock in your leadership – even if you’re not quite sure how.
This model has grown over many years, shaped by my own journey and by what I’ve seen women in leadership truly need: structure, inspiration, direction – and reminders of their own power.
And it all begins by turning inward instead of outward. Leading yourself, before leading others.
CONFIDENT – 9 pillars for sustainable, authentic leadership
Here’s a brief introduction to each part of the CONFIDENT framework – Each one an essential piece of leadership that lasts – in both calm and storm:
C – Clarity
Knowing your values and direction helps you prioritise and make aligned decisions.
O – Ownership
You own your energy, your choices, and your path forward.
Self-leadership begins with taking responsibility for what you can influence.
N – Nurture
Confidence and stability grow when you give yourself space to breathe, reflect, and develop.
It’s not about pushing harder – it’s about building something that lasts.
F – Focus
Focusing on what truly matters helps you conserve energy and take steps that actually move you forward.
I – Intuition
Your inner wisdom knows more than you think.
Learn to listen to your heart, your head, and your gut – and trust them.
D – Discipline
Showing up for yourself, day after day, is an act of self-respect and trust.
Real change lives in your habits.
E – Empathy
Empathy is not a weakness.
It’s a strength that builds trust, relationships, and long-term resilience – in leadership and in self-image.
N – Next Step
You don’t need the whole plan.
One step is always better than none.
Self-leadership is about movement, not perfection.
T - Truth
When you live in alignment with your values and speak your truth, you build leadership that others trust – and that you can stand proudly in, too.
So what does being CONFIDENT mean to you – right now?
This isn’t a checklist. It’s not a performance goal. It’s a mindset.
So take a moment.
If you were to rate your current sense of Confidence on a scale from 1 to 10 –
where 10 means you’re leading yourself with full trust, courage and clarity –
where would you be today?
There’s no “right” answer. But even asking the question is a beginning. And when you know where you are, you can start asking: What would a small, honest next step look like for me? If I were to move just one point higher on that scale – What would feel different? What would I do differently?
Need help taking that step?
To support you, I’ve created a free Clarity Workbook – a reflection guide to help you connect with what matters most right now, and take one concrete step toward it.
This isn’t about major life changes or perfect planning.
It’s about pausing, tuning in, and asking:
What do I need to be my best self – right here, right now?
And the best part? You can start today. Or tomorrow, at the latest.
👉 Download your Clarity Workbook here: [Get it here]
I hope you take that step.
You deserve it.
In this week’s episode of the podcast, I talk about this – and in the coming episodes, I’ll walk you through each part of the framework, piece by piece. So make sure to follow, so you don’t miss a thing.
And you know what? You don’t have to do this alone.
Self-leadership isn’t a solo performance – it’s a process.
Sometimes it feels clear.
Sometimes it’s challenging.
And sometimes… it’s just a lot.
But you don’t need all the answers from the start.
You don’t need to be brave every minute.
You just need to be willing to take the next step – honestly, curiously, in your own time.
And I’m here to walk that path with you.
🎧 In this week’s episode of the podcast Confident Leadership. In Colour I talk more about exactly this:
how we can build inner steadiness not by changing who we are – but by returning to what’s already within us.
In the coming episodes, I’ll walk you through each part of the CONFIDENT framework, step by step.
So if you’d like practical tools, reflections and stories to strengthen your authentic leadership – make sure you follow the podcast so you don’t miss a thing.
Until then, remember:
✨ You already carry everything you need.
✨ It begins with one step.
✨ You are not alone.
You can listen andand follow the podcast on Spotify, YouTube or on Apple Podcast so you don’t miss what’s coming next.