“I don’t want to lose them,” Diane said, thinking of all the hiring she would have to do.
Jack leaned back. “Then stop trying to keep them comfortable.”
She frowned. “You think I’m too soft?” She said in a demanding kind of voice.
“I think you’re avoiding the hard part. And that avoidance is costing you authority.”
She’d just let a key conflict slide in a leadership meeting. Again. She thought easing the tension would preserve trust. Instead, it fed doubt.
“Authority isn’t about holding hands,” Jack said. “It’s about holding the room. Even when things get messy. Especially then.”
Diane paused. “Funny. I grew up on ‘hurt so good’ — but I forgot that applies to leadership too.”
Jack grinned. “Exactly. Conflict handled right doesn’t hurt trust. It sharpens it.”
She nodded. “Next time, I won’t flinch.”
“Next time,” Jack said, “you lead.”
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