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Writer's pictureJessica Grossman

Are You Making This Common Leadership Mistake?

In my role as a leadership coach and team consultant, I’ve noticed a recurring theme. Leaders often seek to avoid the authoritarian vibes of that boss we all dreaded working for in our 20s, leading them to adopt an overly flexible approach. While their intention is to avoid hurting feelings and treat people like adults, this can result in a reluctance to set and communicate clear expectations.


Even though we all have expectations, failing to make them visible is unfair and often leads to frustration and potential breakdowns in relationships. Imagine trying to play soccer on a field without boundary lines—would you want to do that? No! It would just be a lot of running and guesswork.


We don’t need a "cool" leader; we need a stable adult. We need clear lines to define where the field begins and ends. Everyone needs boundaries. But the mistakes don’t end there. Instead of recognizing this as a lack of boundaries, leaders often believe they need to be harder, more rigid, and more in control, concluding that empathetic leadership “doesn’t work.” This causes them to swing to the other side of the pendulum, focusing too much on accountability without any empathy. This disorientation leads to confusion, chaos, and demotivation.


So, the next time you’re concerned about hurting someone's feelings or find yourself lashing out when people aren’t meeting expectations, check out the resource below! And if you agree but want more feedback reps, coaching is a great space to practice that skill!


Download link: https://lnkd.in/gdRRiRKS


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