Leaders must choose effectiveness over niceness, providing clear tools and guidelines instead of leaving people to figure things out. Direct communication is an act of honor, and kindness is strength, not weakness. The speaker uses King Arthur to illustrate why organizations need clear standards and role models.
What you have to realize is that there are always going to be consequences for your actions and your inactions. And frankly, that should drive people to success. That means we're not hoping they'll figure it out. We're giving tools and guidelines by which to achieve it. That's when you realize nice is a shield, but effective is a standard. That King Arthur kind of a thought, the standard being what people in the field were looking for to follow. The shield, well, that is the followers, might be the front lines, but you've got to give even people at the very front of your organization someone to follow. Now, you should know this as well. Kindness is actually not weak. The weakness is not from the kindness. Be very clear about that. And being direct is not rude. The world might tell you it's rude to just tell the unvarnished truth. But as for me and for many others, if we know where you stand, we know where we stand as a result. That's not rude, that's honor.
