Hi, it’s me again, your friendly community anthropologist—and anime fangirl. In case you haven’t noticed, I am unapologetically obsessed with the anime genre of storytelling. It’s honestly difficult for me not to start this article with a list of recommended shows, but that’s not why I’m here.
For women especially, leadership often comes with an unspoken pressure to be polished, agreeable, and universally relatable. But confidence rarely comes from sanding down the edges of who we are. It comes from owning what makes us, us.
We all probably have something we consider a “secret hobby” or a “guilty pleasure.” These are the terms we use when we feel some type of social pressure—whether subconsciously or not—around sharing something that brings us joy but isn’t considered “normal” by all pockets of society.
How many times have you heard someone say, or have even said yourself, “This is probably weird, but…”
I’m here to argue that it’s not weird at all. In fact, it might actually be a power move. And I’m going to use several strong anime women as examples to prove it.
“Self-concept clarity (SCC) references a structural aspect of the self-concept: the extent to which self-beliefs are clearly and confidently defined, internally consistent, and stable.” (Campbell et al., 1996)
Internal friction is something we have all dealt with at one time or another, and it can be truly exhausting, even potentially leading to anxiety and burnout. This is where self-concept clarity (SCC) comes into play.
SCC, which is measured on a scale, is correlated with increases or decreases in self-esteem and confidence. There are countless studies exploring this relationship, including research from the Department of Psychology & Centre for Mental Health Research at the University of Waterloo, where scientists tested theories around SCC and social anxiety.
They hypothesized that if a person is dishonest in disclosing something about themselves, particularly something they fear may lead to social rejection, they tend to have lower levels of SCC than those who disclose honestly.
Their findings suggested that when we are outwardly honest about the things we already know to be true about ourselves internally, our self-concept clarity improves, which can positively impact overall mental wellness.
To be fair, this particular study focused on individuals with higher levels of social anxiety. But the conclusions are still meaningful. As researchers noted, their work helped:
“…elucidate the processes underlying the link between social anxiety and self-concept clarity and provide insight into the costs of adopting an inauthentic façade during interpersonal encounters when social conformity motives become salient.” (Orr & Moscovitch, 2015)
All this to say: when we suppress interests that may not be widely “accepted,” we may actually be creating internal friction that contributes to anxiety and burnout.
In leadership roles, that friction can quietly show up as hesitation. Clear self-concept doesn’t just benefit personal well-being; it strengthens how confidently we show up to lead others.
A great fictional example of strong self-concept clarity can be seen in Violet Evergarden from the anime Violet Evergarden. After an initial identity crisis, Violet develops an incredibly strong sense of self and moves through the world with intention, regardless of external pressure to behave or think differently.
She learns how to translate the confidence she developed in her former life into a completely new one. That evolution eventually brings her peace and comfort; a powerful representation of what it looks like when self-concept clarity becomes an outward expression.
The certainty that confident people exhibit also tends to reduce social friction across many scenarios, something easily recognizable in our own corporate environments. We’re more likely to follow suggestions, accept mentorship, and explore ideas offered by people who present themselves with confidence.
In customer contact organizations especially, leaders are constantly making decisions in high-pressure environments. When leaders project clarity in who they are and what they believe, teams could tend to trust their direction more quickly.
Interestingly, confidence isn’t always about universal approval. It’s more about certainty in preference. Confidence in who you are, how you behave, your beliefs, and the many small things that make up a person.
Take Nobara Kugisaki from Jujutsu Kaisen. She proudly tells anyone who questions her that she can dress like a girl, love all the ‘girlie’ things, and still be stronger than the boys, and that confidence has shaken many a foe.
As she puts it:
“I love myself when I'm pretty and all dressed up! And I love myself when I'm being strong!”
Being passionate about the things you like doesn’t diminish your abilities, your intelligence, or your dedication. If anything, it makes you more
memorable, and your overall happiness may benefit from it.
I’ve spent years observing the CCWomen community, both in virtual formats and in in-person settings. One thing I’ve consistently noticed is that the people who are unapologetic about their interests often become CCWomen’s strongest collaborators, speakers, and community connectors. That kind of authenticity often translates directly into leadership presence. When someone exhibits strong self-concept clarity, it gives others permission to show up more fully as well — which is exactly the kind of culture strong leaders create.
They’re also the ones everyone wants to chat with.
I’d like to carry that observation into the realm of so-called “weird” interests. Based on what we’ve learned about self-concept clarity, it’s reasonable to theorize that being unapologetic about your passions — in all their forms — can lead to similar outcomes.
Passion contributes to personality depth, allowing your identity to become stronger and more confident. As we’ve already discussed, confidence tends to lead to positive social and professional interactions. When you combine confidence with genuine passion, you create a powerful presence.
When you speak with enthusiasm, reference what genuinely excites you, and avoid shaming your own interests, you are actively modeling:
And as a bonus, your self-concept clarity may benefit, too.
In The Apothecary Diaries, the main character Maomao, has a hobby that causes no small amount of concern for the other characters in her world.
She loves experimenting with poisons.
Despite the raised eyebrows around her, Maomao remains completely unapologetic about her interests. As a result, she becomes the go-to problem solver, developing an unmatched knowledge base that allows her to unravel mysteries no one else can.
Although her gender and social status should theoretically limit her influence, she ultimately shatters those expectations and creates a life where she commands respect and authority.
All because she never stopped pursuing what fascinated her.
I encourage you to stop using the disclaimer “this is probably weird, but…” when sharing interests or hobbies. Leaders set cultural tone, often without realizing it. When leaders speak openly about the things that excite them — whether that’s analytics, running marathons, or yes, anime — they signal that individuality is welcome.
As we’ve learned, aligning honesty between what we feel internally and what we share externally can have a positive impact on our sense of self, improving confidence and potentially reducing anxiety.
So here’s a challenge:
Share something you love that might be considered a little “weird,” and see who leans in.
You may deepen your own identity, and you might even open the door for someone else who shares the same passion but hasn’t felt comfortable saying it out loud yet.
Our interests and passions are part of our power set. They influence how we present ourselves and how others perceive us. For women in leadership, embracing those interests can be more than a personal confidence boost; it can signal that authenticity belongs in professional spaces, too.
Use your passions as tools to:
Now, go and be confidently weird!
Citations:
Campbell, J. D., Trapnell, P. D., Heine, S. J., Katz, I. M., Lavallee, L. F., & Lehman, D. R. (1996). Self-concept clarity: Measurement, personality correlates, and cultural boundaries. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(1), 141–156. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.141
Violet Evergarden, Kyoto Animation, 2018.
Jujutsu Kaisen, MAPPA, 2020
The Apothecary Diaries, TOHO Animation, 2023