Welcome back, Bridge Builders, to another hard-hitting episode of "Bread to Lead" with your host, Dr. Jake Tayler Jacobs. Today, we're diving into a crucial topic: why faking it never makes it in leadership. Drawing from his extensive experience as a corporate fixer, Dr. Jacobs exposes the damaging effects of leaders who pad resumes, write empty press releases, and hop from one opportunity to another in a bid to maintain an illusion of success. Through a compelling story of a tech startup's downfall under a pretender CEO, he illustrates how the facade eventually crumbles, leading to organizational collapse. Dr. Jacobs lays out five key reasons why faking it doesn't work in leadership, emphasizing the importance of trust, competence, authenticity, growth, and the inevitable exposure of the truth. He provides actionable steps for leaders to become genuine, including honest self-assessment, continuous learning, embracing failure, seeking feedback, practicing authenticity, setting realistic goals, and focusing on value creation. As the episode unfolds, Dr. Jacobs challenges listeners to shed their masks and do the hard work of becoming real leaders. He underscores the rewards of authentic leadership, such as building real confidence, earning respect and trust, and creating a culture of growth and authenticity. Don't miss this episode filled with practical advice and inspiring insights. Subscribe to "Bread to Lead" and check out our Next Step Leadership Program at Sips Healthcare. Transform your leadership journey with integrity and impact.