Bravery without boundaries can backfire.

I’ve seen it happen. Someone aspiring to a VP role shares a deeply personal story about being mistreated by a boss or about joining a job that wasn’t what they expected. While the intent might be authentic, what is the result? Crickets from recruiters missed opportunities or even backlash.

The solution isn’t to stop sharing stories. It’s about putting the right guardrails in place.

👉 Start Here: Know Your Audience
It sounds simple, but truly understanding your audience is everything. Go deeper than just identifying their job titles:

-What generation are they? Gen Z connects differently than Gen X or Boomers.
-What’s their family dynamic? Are they parents, empty-nesters, or single?
-Where are they located? Culture varies greatly—from New York City to the Southern states, from Chicago to Orange County. Tailor your tone, content, and delivery to reflect their cultural norms and preferences.

🎯 Stories That Work in Any Setting
When targeting a specific audience (like hiring managers or recruiters), focus on themes that resonate universally:

1️⃣ Overcoming challenges: Share stories of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
2️⃣ Collaboration: Highlight times you worked with a team to achieve success.
3️⃣ Leadership growth: Talk about moments that shaped your leadership style or decision-making process.
4️⃣ Lessons learned: Reflect on mistakes or missteps—but frame them as lessons that made you stronger and better prepared for the future.

🚦 Guardrails for Posting:
Avoid stories that air grievances about past roles or people—it can come across as unprofessional.
Focus on positivity and progress, even when discussing challenges.
Ask yourself: Does this story align with the values of my target audience?

👉 The Bottom Line:
Be brave, but be intentional. Bravery in storytelling is about putting yourself out there in ways that connect and inspire, not detract from your goals. Every story you share should move you closer to your target, whether that’s landing a dream job, building your brand, or forging deeper connections.