Otherwise formidable and self-confident leaders can sometimes turn into shape-shifting lizards in the presence of powerful and high-status colleagues or clients.
I've seen this before. It wasn't about pleasing the higher-level leader, but avoiding any potential conflict and asking for permission rather than what the person recommended (they were an expert on the issue of what they were discussing). Your advice still holds true. Thanks for posting.
Some of us can’t simply shed these concerns, they are a bit too baked in. I’ll happily follow a recommended behavior, but we can’t start with a recommendation to “stop caring what people think.” I care.
I've seen this before. It wasn't about pleasing the higher-level leader, but avoiding any potential conflict and asking for permission rather than what the person recommended (they were an expert on the issue of what they were discussing). Your advice still holds true. Thanks for posting.
Over-indexing on wanting to be liked by high-status people?
Some of us can’t simply shed these concerns, they are a bit too baked in. I’ll happily follow a recommended behavior, but we can’t start with a recommendation to “stop caring what people think.” I care.