S.T.R.O.N.G.er Leadership: How to Lead with Confidence and Authenticity
In this heartfelt blog post, Siobhan Cunningham, LCSW, shares her journey through self-doubt, leadership failure, and ultimately, resilience. After facing overwhelming pressure and setbacks in her military career, Siobhan realized that authentic leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about authenticity, growth, and emotional resilience. She introduces the S.T.R.O.N.G Leadership Model, a six-principle framework that helped her rebuild her confidence and redefine success. Highlighting the inspiring story of Lt. Col. Charity Adams and the 6888th Battalion, Siobhan shows how authentic leadership can overcome even the most formidable odds. Readers are invited to reflect on their leadership journey and download the free S.T.R.O.N.G.er Playbook—an interactive journal designed to help apply these leadership principles in real life. If you’ve ever struggled with impostor syndrome or questioned your place as a leader, this post reminds you: You are stronger than you think, and the world needs your leadership.
📥 Download your free S.T.R.O.N.G.er Playbook here
Have You Ever Felt Like You Don’t Belong?
You walk into a room, and suddenly, it hits you. That sinking feeling. Do I belong here?
I know that feeling all too well. When I arrived at Commissioned Officers Training, my heart pounded so loudly I thought everyone could hear it. I wasn’t just afraid of failing—I was terrified that everyone would finally see what I feared most... that I didn’t belong.
The self-doubt was relentless, no matter how hard I worked, how much I accomplished, or how many hours I put in. I threw myself into proving my worth—skipping meals, losing sleep, and saying ‘yes’ to every extra duty. I thought if I worked hard enough, the doubt would disappear. Spoiler alert: It didn’t.
Then, it happened. I was removed from duty. It felt like proof that I wasn’t good enough. Proof that I didn’t belong. Proof that everything I feared was true. As a military leader, I was supposed to embody emotional resilience and confidence. But here I was, falling apart. I wasn’t just failing as an officer—I was failing at mental health and leadership, the career I had excelled in before joining the Air Force.
That was my breaking point. But it was also my turning point. I realized that leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about authenticity.
That led me to develop the S.T.R.O.N.G Leadership Model—a framework that guided me through the chaos and helped me rebuild my confidence, authenticity, and leadership style.
The S.T.R.O.N.G Leadership Model: A Framework for Authentic Leadership
Leadership isn’t about being invincible. It’s about embracing growth, learning from missteps, and leading wholeheartedly. The S.T.R.O.N.G Leadership Model helps leaders navigate challenges with six key principles:
Surrender: Let go of the need to control every outcome and trust that others can step up.
Transparency: Be honest about your struggles—creating space for open and authentic conversations.
Respectful Relationships: Leadership is built on connection, not isolation. Foster trust and mutual respect.
Optimism: Believe in the possibilities, even when things seem uncertain. Your mindset shapes your leadership.
Navigate Your Next-Level Self: Who do you want to become? Take intentional steps toward your future leadership development.
Grace: The most transformative piece—show kindness, forgive imperfections, and keep moving forward.
These six principles helped me navigate my lowest points and emerge stronger as a leader. Instead of striving for perfection, I focused on leading with authenticity, confidence, and emotional resilience.
A Lesson in Leadership from the 6888th Battalion
I thought my challenges were overwhelming until I learned about a group of women in military leadership who faced impossible odds—leaders who had every reason to give up but didn’t. One of the most inspiring examples is Lt. Col. Charity Adams and the 6888th Battalion.
In December 1944, Adams led the only Black and Hispanic Women’s Auxiliary Corps company to serve overseas. They were given an enormous task: to process a backlog of mail of over seven million for soldiers in World War II. At one point, they had over 7,500 Robert Smiths to sort through without digital records! The mission was daunting, and racism and limited resources made it even harder.
But their motto was “No Mail, Low Morale.” They worked around the clock, beating their deadline by three months and proving that resilience, focus, and teamwork could overcome any obstacle.
What does this teach us?
Surrender: They had to let go of frustrations and focus on solutions.
Transparency: Adams kept her team focused on the bigger picture, even under challenging conditions.
Respectful Relationships: They supported each other despite external resistance.
Optimism: They believed in their mission, knowing it made a difference for soldiers longing for home.
Next-Level Self: Their leadership broke barriers for future generations.
Grace: They focused on the mission, not the obstacles, and led with dignity.
Their story reminds us that authentic leadership, emotional resilience, and self-trust are critical to navigating challenges and breaking barriers.
Are You Ready to Become S.T.R.O.N.G.er?
If you’ve ever doubted yourself, struggled with imposter syndrome in leadership, or felt like you were one mistake away from failure—you are not alone. The S.T.R.O.N.G Leadership Model isn’t about being perfect. It’s about showing up, learning, and leading with authenticity.
But leadership isn’t just about knowing—it’s about doing. I created The S.T.R.O.N.G.er Playbook, an interactive journal packed with exercises, reflection prompts, and actionable strategies to help you implement these principles in real life.
📥 Download your FREE copy of The S.T.R.O.N.G.er Playbook today! https://siobhandeann.thrivecart.com/stronger-playbook/
Let’s start this journey together. You are stronger than you think, and the world needs your leadership. 🚀
Siobhan Cunningham, LCSW
Host of Armed with Ambition
