Don’t try to be cool…unless you are.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cooked up quite a media storm when he posted a photo on Father’s Day proudly displaying his culinary skills…or lack thereof.

Any person with some knowledge of cooking knows you prepare the meat before you add the cheese.

He’s not the only politician who has proven that “fake it till you make it” can be a trap. From Elizabeth Warren drinking a beer to Hillary Clinton trying on a Southern accent, even the well-seasoned can go viral for the wrong reasons.

As we know, election season brings out some of the worst fake/forced posts. Here’s how to prevent it from happening to you:

#1 — Don’t try to be cool…unless you are. People are smart enough to sniff out whether or not you’re as cool as you’re pretending to be. No one will ask you why you didn’t drink a beer, or grill, or talk in a new way. But they may ask, “What in the world?!?!” if you do.

#2 — Have a team that’s willing to say no. How Chuck Schumer’s team didn’t catch this I’ll never know. But if you’re running for office or you’re working for someone who is, have a policy that includes a gatekeeper. Another pair of eyes can help catch the ill-advised post and save you in the long run.

#3 — Be you. Authenticity matters. Sharing personal anecdotes alongside professional posts helps to build out your brand. But if you’re a geek, it’s okay. People probably know. So if, on Father’s Day, your post shows you playing chess with your kids, that’s great! It’s you. People will believe it. And it’s better you win or lose as your authentic self.