Excess of anything is harmful. As leaders, being overly cheerful, flexible, or trusting can sometimes be mistaken for weakness. It doesn’t help anyone. Our team might assume we’re easy to push over or that substandard performance is acceptable. While we may believe they need more support and guidance, what they may truly need are clear deadlines and a sense of urgency. Without this, momentum stalls, and costs rise.
The fix is simple: being kind does not mean being weak. Leaders must learn to balance empathy with accountability.
