Anton Guinea
Entrepreneur, Speaker, bestselling author, and founder of The Guinea Group of Companies. For over 15 years, Anton has helped leaders move their teams to become psychologically safe, physically safe and overall better versions of themselves.
Have you ever looked back at something painful in your life and wondered if it happened for a reason?
I’ve had that thought more times than I can count. After my near-fatal workplace accident, I didn’t see purpose, I only saw pain. It took time, a lot of reflection, and some honest conversations with myself before I realised that what nearly broke me would one day help others. That’s the part many of us miss in the middle of our struggle, the hurt we go through can often be the very thing that gives us the empathy and courage to help someone else through theirs.
Turning pain into purpose
There’s something powerful that happens when you stop running from your pain and start learning from it. I’ve written before about how to turn your pain into your purpose, and every time I revisit that idea, I’m reminded that purpose isn’t found in comfort, it’s forged in adversity. The hardest chapters of our lives can become the greatest lessons we share with others.
I often talk to leaders who carry old wounds from times they were overlooked, dismissed, or even mistreated at work. Those experiences might have been painful, but they also shaped the way they now lead. They learned to be the leader they once needed. That’s real growth. And it’s something I’ve seen echoed in a recent article on vulnerability in leadership. Showing your scars doesn’t make you weak, it makes you relatable.
Helping others through your story
It’s one thing to move on from what hurt you. It’s another to use it to help others heal. That’s where your story comes in. The truth is, people don’t connect to perfection, they connect to honesty. When you share your story, you’re saying, “I’ve been there too.” That simple phrase can break walls faster than any team-building exercise.
That’s why I often encourage leaders to develop the courage to speak about what shaped them. Storytelling isn’t about rehearsed speeches, it’s about real experiences. If you want to learn more about that, I wrote a piece on the art of storytelling for leaders that unpacks how vulnerability builds trust within teams. And that trust, once formed, becomes the foundation of psychologically safe workplaces.
Here’s another article that explains how psychological safety fuels innovation and connection in teams. It aligns with what I see every day, teams don’t thrive because everything is perfect, they thrive because they feel safe enough to be imperfect.
Leadership through vulnerability
Leaders who pretend to have it all together often create environments where others feel pressured to do the same. I’ve seen it in workshops countless times, leaders who admit they’re struggling often find their teams lean in, not away. It’s human nature. People want to work for someone who feels real.
When you lead with openness, you’re giving permission for others to do the same. In fact, it’s one of the principles I teach in my leadership programs at The Guinea Group. We also provide corporate leadership training that focuses on emotional awareness and conscious control, the kind of leadership that doesn’t hide behind authority but steps forward with authenticity.
A recent McKinsey study reinforces this idea, showing that leaders who demonstrate vulnerability foster stronger relationships and more resilient teams. It’s something I’ve seen first-hand, the moment leaders stop performing and start being themselves, everything changes.
Why your story matters more than you think
Sometimes we underestimate the impact of our stories. I’ve seen team members open up about something deeply personal, and suddenly, the whole room shifts. There’s more empathy. More patience. More connection. The truth is, your story might be exactly what someone else needs to hear to start healing or to believe they’re not alone.
That’s why vulnerability in leadership isn’t about self-pity, it’s about service. You’re showing people what’s possible when you face your pain instead of hiding from it. As I’ve said before, authenticity creates connection, and connection creates safety. Leaders who understand this build teams that perform better, stay longer, and care more deeply.
Bringing it all together
So, what hurt you might actually be what helps others. The pain that once made you question your strength could become the reason someone else finds theirs. And if that’s true, then every setback becomes an opportunity for service. Every scar becomes a story worth telling.
If you’re ready to take that next step in your own leadership growth, you can book a session with me or get in touch to see how we can help you and your team turn lessons into leadership. You don’t have to go through it alone, what hurt you might be what helps someone else tomorrow.
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UPGRADE your Mindset
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