Very polite leaders tend to be less effective.
Whereas highly respectful leaders perform better. Here’s why…
Imagine a situation where someone isn’t doing a good job.
Now, imagine it was you.
What would you want your manager to do?
Be polite and say nothing, in case they upset you?
Or show some respect and help you? By clearly explaining two things:
- They’re here to support you and your growth
- The ways in which you’re underperforming
The polite approach gambles on someone’s mind-reading abilities.
Whereas the respectful one gives the person (and the team) the best chance of success.
Polite leaders prioritise their short term comfort (by avoiding hard conversations) at the expense of long term individual and team growth.
Respectful leaders tackle issues with clarity and care, to promote long term individual and collective performance.
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