Leaders who care about people naturally want what is best for them. They do whatever they can to prop up, support, and encourage those on the team who underperform. They hope the optimism they project will become self-fulfilling over time, lighting a fire or burnishing new skills.
This is one of those talks I wish I had had way back when. It took me years to come to grips with the idea that compassion and being straightforward are compatible. I like the idea in this essay that directness can be a form of compassion.
We had a hard conversation about having hard conversations.
You can listen to the 15-minute discussion of this Field Notes entry here: https://twitter.com/AdmiredLeaders/status/1651972836670439424
This is one of those talks I wish I had had way back when. It took me years to come to grips with the idea that compassion and being straightforward are compatible. I like the idea in this essay that directness can be a form of compassion.
As long as we don't use it as our license to be rude.
Too many leaders think candor provides that excuse.