<p><strong>What if the polished version of you is actually keeping you from real influence?</strong></p><p>In this powerful episode, host Jason Stonehouse sits down with Amos Balongo, global leadership coach and communication expert who&#39;s trained everyone from senior military commanders to Fortune 500 executives. Amos challenges one of the biggest lies in leadership culture: that you need to fake confidence until you make it.</p><p>Amos breaks down why authenticity beats polish every single time, comparing &quot;fake it till you make it&quot; to building a house on eggshells. He reveals that the longest distance between two points is actually a shortcut, and that real communication power comes from genuinely believing in what you&#39;re saying. This isn&#39;t about sounding good, it&#39;s about being real.</p><p>This conversation digs into why so many leaders know their stuff but still struggle to communicate clearly, the difference between confidence and performance, and why people can sense when you&#39;re not genuinely passionate about what you&#39;re talking about. Jason and Amos explore practical ways to communicate with authenticity, how to connect across generational divides in team meetings, and why asking better questions beats demanding confirmation every time.</p><p>If you&#39;ve ever walked into a meeting trying to sound confident but ended up winging it with PowerPoint slides and a prayer, this episode will help you find your real voice, the one people actually trust and remember.</p><p><strong>Links:</strong></p><ul><li>Amos&#39;s website: <a href="amosbalongo.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">amosbalongo.com</a></li></ul><ul><li>Jason&#39;s coaching resources: <a href="jasonstonehouse.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">jasonstonehouse.com</a></li><li>Free growth resource:<a href=" totalpackageplaybook.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"> totalpackageplaybook.com</a></li></ul><p><strong>Know a leader who needs to stop performing and start connecting? Share this episode with them, and subscribe to the Calm and Confident Leader podcast for conversations that cut through the noise.</strong></p>