Really liked this, especially the distinction between what we think we’re communicating and what everyone else is actually busy decoding.
One thought it sparked for me.. perhaps the ultimate job of a leader isn’t just to set the emotional temperature, but eventually to make the room a little less dependent on their thermostat. Because teams read leaders for data constantly. A shorter Slack message, a weird face in a meeting, suddenly everyone is doing amateur Kremlinology before lunch. “She used a full stop. Are we being restructured?”
So yes, leaders absolutely set the temperature. But maybe mature cultures also develop some insulation: enough trust, context and psychological safety that one tired face doesn’t send the whole building into winter.
You're so right. I think the ultimate job of a leader is to make themselves obsolete, so that the organization no longer needs them to function -- perhaps it will function even better.
It's not that you aren't needed as a leader. It's that you're creating the conditions and developing the people on the team around you so that you aren't the center of the universe.
Love your reflection and feedback -- thank you for sharing!
Really liked this, especially the distinction between what we think we’re communicating and what everyone else is actually busy decoding.
One thought it sparked for me.. perhaps the ultimate job of a leader isn’t just to set the emotional temperature, but eventually to make the room a little less dependent on their thermostat. Because teams read leaders for data constantly. A shorter Slack message, a weird face in a meeting, suddenly everyone is doing amateur Kremlinology before lunch. “She used a full stop. Are we being restructured?”
So yes, leaders absolutely set the temperature. But maybe mature cultures also develop some insulation: enough trust, context and psychological safety that one tired face doesn’t send the whole building into winter.
Really thoughtful piece.
You're so right. I think the ultimate job of a leader is to make themselves obsolete, so that the organization no longer needs them to function -- perhaps it will function even better.
It's not that you aren't needed as a leader. It's that you're creating the conditions and developing the people on the team around you so that you aren't the center of the universe.
Love your reflection and feedback -- thank you for sharing!