Why am I the bad guy? Or am I?

I am back after the summer break and am discussing a tough but important topic. I reflect in this episode on the struggles that I have faced as an “accidental leader,” especially over this past summer. Leadership isn’t something I was trained for, and, like many, I have had to figure it out as I go.

Early in my career, I followed the example of leaders before me, and to be honest, I wasn’t great at it. I was task-oriented, lacked empathy, and didn’t treat people as the humans they are, and over time, I have realized that being too harsh does not work, but swinging to the opposite extreme and being too soft also has its own problems.

This past summer, I really grappled with the balance between kindness and accountability, and I have been asking myself: where’s the middle ground? How can I be a compassionate leader while still holding my team to a high standard?

 

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