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.
What’s the one piece of advice or experience you’ve kept to yourself that could’ve helped someone else grow?
That’s the question I often ask myself. I see it when a team is stuck, a leader is floundering, or a culture has gone quiet. In my early days, I used to think that what I knew was my edge. Over time, I’ve learnt that what I share is my legacy.
I’m not talking about writing a book or giving a TED Talk. I mean the simple stuff. Helping someone avoid a mistake I once made, or writing a quick post about something that made me think. These are the breadcrumbs that leaders leave behind. And they matter more than you might think.
Why keeping knowledge to yourself gets you nowhere
I know there’s a hesitation. “If I give too much away, what will be left for me?” I’ve heard it. I used to believe it. But here’s the thing. Leaders who hoard knowledge don’t build trust. They build silos. They build fear. And in some cases, they build resentment.
Sharing what you know is not about ego. It’s about care. It’s about leading in a way that lifts others. It’s about creating environments where people feel safe to learn out loud. Even if it’s messy. That’s why I built the Speak Safe program. A psychologically safe workplace isn’t built on rules and handbooks. It’s built on open conversations. And the courage to have them.
How to start sharing without second guessing yourself
Some of the best leaders I’ve worked with say, “But Anton, I don’t have anything new to say.” My answer? You don’t need something new. You just need something honest.
Here’s a simple way to start. Think about the last time someone came to you for help. What did you say? What did you wish you said? What part of that conversation would others benefit from? That’s your content. That’s your legacy. And you don’t need to overthink it.
If you’re on LinkedIn or even just having hallway conversations, start small. Try posting once a week. Or share a story in your team meeting. The idea is to normalise sharing as a leadership behaviour. There’s a great breakdown here about how this kind of openness creates better collaboration, learning, and performance in teams.
The digital footprint you leave as a leader
I see a lot of leaders hiding behind their roles. They stay off social media because they think it’s not professional, or they’re worried they’ll say the wrong thing. But not showing up online is still a choice. And people notice it.
There’s value in creating content as a leader. Not to build a brand. But to build trust. To be seen. To be heard. To let others know what you stand for. You don’t need perfect posts. You need honest ones. Posts that share lessons, setbacks, wins, and the little things that shape how you lead.
Why sharing your story is one of the most courageous things you can do
Sharing your knowledge means putting a piece of yourself out there. It means admitting you’ve made mistakes, or that you’re still learning. That’s not weakness. That’s strength. That’s what builds trust in leadership.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned from thousands of coaching conversations is this. Your team doesn’t need you to be bulletproof. They need you to be real. If you’re still not sure how to begin, just talk about the moments that shaped you. The decisions that were hard. The conversations you wish you handled differently.
There’s an excellent article here that talks about how authentic thought leadership starts with storytelling. Not authority. That matches what I see in real life. People connect with leaders who aren’t afraid to drop the act.
Legacy is what you hand over
I used to think legacy was this big, dramatic thing you only earn after 30 years in the field. But I’ve realised that legacy is in the little things. The time you spend coaching someone. The feedback you give. The team culture you nurture. It’s in what people say when you’re not in the room. And most of all, it’s in what they learn from you.
This idea isn’t just philosophical. It’s practical. Research like this shows how leadership behaviours shape knowledge-sharing cultures. It also confirms what we see every day at The Guinea Group. Leaders who talk about what they’ve learned tend to grow stronger, safer teams.
If you’re interested in how to build this into your leadership toolkit, I wrote about it here. what will you be remembered for.
Make it easier for your team to speak up and pass it on
One of the biggest barriers to knowledge sharing is fear. People worry about looking stupid. Saying the wrong thing. Taking up space. That’s why we need leaders who don’t just share what they know. They also make it safe for others to do the same.
If that resonates with you, I’d recommend taking a look at this piece. It goes into what it really takes to create a culture of safety, especially in conversations. And if you’re in a position to support change, consider booking a leadership session or checking out our Speak Safe training.
Because sharing knowledge doesn’t just help your team today. It builds a legacy that lasts long after you leave the room.
Let’s not overcomplicate it
You don’t need a content strategy or a fancy framework. You just need to care enough to speak up. Share what you know. Pass it on. And if you’re ready to go deeper or talk more about what this looks like inside your team, get in touch.
Please click the image below if you’d like to chat about what leadership means to you
If you would like to learn more about Anton or The Guinea Group, please click here to book into Anton’s calendar, to:
UPGRADE your Mindset
UPSKILL your Leadership
UPLIFT your Teams