How to Balance Leadership Traits

Everyone loves an empathetic leader… until it leads to burnout, poor decision-making, and weak accountability. I learned this the hard way. Early in my leadership journey, I wanted to be the leader everyone liked—the one who always listened, understood, and supported my team at all costs. I thought that being a "nice" leader meant being a great leader. So, I said yes to everything. I took on my team’s stress as my own. I avoided tough conversations because I didn’t want to seem harsh. I thought I was helping. But in reality? 🚨 My team wasn’t growing because I wasn’t holding them accountable. 🚨 I was drowning in emotional exhaustion. 🚨 Decisions took forever because I didn’t want to upset anyone. Then one day, someone gave me the leadership advice that changed everything: “Stop trying to be nice. Be kind instead.” At first, I didn’t get it. But here’s the difference: 🔹 Nice leaders avoid conflict, tell people what they want to hear, and prioritize being liked over being effective. 🔹 Kind leaders are direct, honest, and hold people accountable—but do so with empathy and respect. And resreach backs this up. 🔹 Leaders with excessive empathy experience higher emotional exhaustion and burnout. (Harvard Business Review) 🔹 70% of employees say they perform better when leaders balance empathy with accountability. (McKinsey & Co.) 🔹 Decision paralysis increases by 31% when leaders prioritize emotional comfort over clarity. (Forbes) I realized that true leadership isn’t about being nice—it’s about being effective. So, how do you balance empathy with assertiveness? ✅ Set Clear Boundaries: You can care about your team without carrying their burdens. Your job is to support, not solve everything for them. ✅ Make Tough Decisions with Compassion: Being direct and holding people accountable isn’t unkind—it’s necessary for growth. ✅ Lead with Emotional Agility: Recognize emotions but don’t let them drive every decision. Data, strategy, and logic must have a seat at the table. When I finally made this shift, my team respected me more, performed better, and trusted me—not because I was “nice,” but because I was a strong, fair, and effective leader. So, if you’ve ever struggled with being too nice as a leader, ask yourself: Am I leading with balanced empathy, or am I letting it hold me back? #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #DecisionMaking #ExecutiveCoaching #ManagementTips

Leading with your head is not enough. Once I learned this, I changed the way I lead. Eleanor Roosevelt's wisdom about leading with your head and heart rings true for me. From my experience, a balance of logic & empathy is the secret to great leadership. It's about making sound decisions. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 showing compassion. But many leaders struggle with this balance. Here’s how I apply it: 1️⃣ 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. ↳ Be strategic.   ↳ When the pressure is on, rely on facts. ↳ I once had to downsize a team to stay profitable. ↳ It wasn’t easy, but I relied on data to guide the decision. 2️⃣ 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁. ↳ Empathize and support. ↳ It’s not about what you do, but how you do it. ↳ Regular check-ins & open communication are key. ↳ After tough decisions, I ensure my team feels supported. 3️⃣ 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵. ↳ Create a culture of trust and efficiency. ↳ Being strategic and empathetic builds trust. The best leaders don’t choose between head or heart—they use both. This balance not only boosts morale but also improves team performance. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿? 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄! __________ ♻️ Repost to benefit those in your network. 🔔 Follow me (Nadeem) for more content like this. 📷 Photo credit: yousuf_karsh_official (IG)

"Although we often see ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically, we are feeling creatures that think." - Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.d. Imagine waking up to find your left brain—the side of logic and reason—offline, leaving only your right brain, which thrives on creativity, emotion, and connection. How would you navigate life? I recently finished My Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, a neuroscientist who shared her experience of a stroke that silenced her left brain. This book was a real eye-opener. My father experienced a minor stroke a few years back, and the effects still linger. The book gave me a deeper understanding of what he went through. Dr. Taylor’s mother, G.G., played a crucial role in her recovery, teaching us two key lessons: 1) Holistic Support: G.G. created a calm, positive environment for Dr. Taylor's emotional, cognitive, and spiritual healing, focusing on practices that soothed and rebuilt her mind. 2) Endless Patience: G.G. was a constant source of patience and encouragement, helping Dr. Taylor relearn basic skills and stay motivated. After her stroke, Dr. Taylor had to relearn how to think logically, even basic math, as those neurons had died. But she made a conscious choice not to relearn some bad habits—like losing her temper or engaging with people whose values didn’t align with hers. This helped her maintain the peace she found in her right brain. It's this balance I strive for in my own leadership. As a leader, this book reminded me of three key principles: 1) The right mix of Heart and Mind:  Leadership is about balancing logic with empathy. Use your left brain to strategize but tap into your right brain to connect with your team emotionally. Success comes from combining data-driven decisions with genuine human connection. 2) Relationships and Motivation:  Understanding your team’s motivations and building strong relationships is essential. Make emotional intelligence your superpower—build trust, foster loyalty, and create a culture where people feel valued and inspired. 3) Adaptability and Mindful Leadership:  As a leader, more often than not, I am forced to use my left brain but switching from logic to emotion requires us to be Mindful. Adaptability allows you to navigate any situation with the right mix of strategy and empathy. As they say, 85% of our happiness in life comes from our relationships. So, when leading a team, don’t just think strategically—think compassionately. When we lead with our whole brain, we don’t just achieve success—we create it together. For more, check out the book here: https://a.co/d/ePWHKxK #BookSummary #MystrokeofInsight #Wholebrainthinking #leadership