There is a dangerous myth in the high-growth business world that true leadership requires a streak of cruelty. We idolize the erratic, table-thumping CEOs of Silicon Valley and assume that holding high standards means leaving bodies in our wake.
We mistake brutality for firmness. We reference the early portrayals of Steve Jobs and forget that his true, enduring progress came after he returned to Apple: still demanding, still intense, but more focused, mature, and intentional than the reckless young founder he had been.
Of course, true leadership is not soft. It cannot afford to be. But true leadership is fundamentally kind. Those two things are not opposites.
Being soft means lowering the bar because you are afraid of conflict. It means letting poor work slide to preserve a false peace. That is not kindness.
Kindness is the radical act of giving people absolute clarity, equipping them with the tools to win, holding them accountable to their own potential, and still caring about their wellbeing and dignity. The end does not justify the means if the means destroys the individual and weakens the future of the organization.
The reason we run from true kindness is that it requires more work.
It requires investing in clarity instead of dumping your chaos on your people and expecting them to just figure it out. It requires paying attention to people’s strengths and weaknesses, and delegating with intention. It requires pausing to understand what is not working and why, rather than screaming out the frustration of your own unfinished leadership work.
You can only be successfully firm when you have first been fiercely clear.
And that is hard. So we push and scream. We pass down our frustration. Sometimes the work gets done, but people lose their soul in the process, and the organization loses the endurance that should come with success.
Then those same people pass the frustration on to new team members, and everyone simply tries to survive another Monday instead of working eagerly toward the vision of a leader they know cares not only about the targets, but also the people chasing them.
We need intentional cultures. We need business leaders that care.
@lizzle4fun@Molly_AFC So fine and ready make he start them and next match against Fulham make he start them again. Abi .. Una wahala too much just give a support that’s all that’s the energy we want not everytime complaining
@emmanuelbasy First impressions last longer as they say,communication is non-negotiable in this kind of role. That said, emergencies do happen.. Hopefully she gets another chance to prove herself. but with very clear boundaries and expectations.
They set big goals (but quit when it gets uncomfortable).
They love the destination (but hate the journey).
That’s why many start loud…
And end in silence.
Fall in love with the process...
Because that’s where real winners are built.
Everyone Loves Goals (But Hates The Process)
Most people say they want success.
But they avoid the work it requires.
They want more money (but avoid investing in themselves).
They want respect (but ignore personal growth).