You Weren’t Hired to Be Liked. You Were Hired to Lead.

Happy Wednesday!

Welcome to Leadership Unscripted. Each edition, we share 1 Case Study, 1 Framework, 1 Question. These are real moments and practical strategies for rethinking your approach to leadership.

Let’s dive in.

Jasmine was promoted quickly (to Director - way to go, Jasmine!).

She was sharp, reliable, and deeply liked by her team. People described her as thoughtful, positive, and easy to work with. Jasmine took pride in that reputation.

She brought in breakfast, gave gentle feedback, and avoided conflict to protect team morale.

But regardless of her efforts, results started slipping.

Deadlines were missed. Frustration grew. Performance issues went unaddressed. And in coaching, Jasmine admitted:
“I don’t want to be harsh. I want people to feel safe.”

Her coach offered a different perspective:
“Safety isn’t built by avoiding the truth—it’s built by delivering it clearly and with care.”

That landed.

Jasmine wasn’t building a sense of safety. She was building ambiguity.
And her team didn’t need more kindness.
They needed more clarity.

So she shifted.

She reset expectations. She gave honest feedback. She got specific about what was okay, and what wasn’t. And she did it with empathy.

The team didn’t disengage. They leaned in. Because clear communication gave them something to trust.

Jasmine stopped leading for comfort.
She started leading for growth.
And that made all the difference.

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1 Framework

The Clarity + Care Model

The strongest leaders do both.

Clarity
What’s expected. What’s okay. What’s not.
Say it plainly. Say it early.

Care
Be direct with respect. Lead with compassion, not avoidance.

This is what high-performing teams crave:
Not harmony at the cost of progress—but honesty that sharpens and supports.

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1 Question

If you’ve been avoiding a conversation or softening your message, it’s worth asking:
👉 What hard truth are you avoiding in order to be liked?

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Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

We’ve all had moments where we confused kindness with leadership.
The turning point comes when we stop pleasing—and start leading with clarity.

What shifted for you? What have you learned about being clear, not just nice?
Hit reply. We’re listening.

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Real Stories. Real Tools. Real Impact.

Forget the fluff. We’re that company, revealing behind-the-scenes leadership wins and strategies that actually work.

Because all it takes is one bold move to shatter barriers, inspire your team, and make your mark.