The kind of leader we need. Especially now.
- Aug 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 1
8 principles for those leading in tough times, when empty words no longer work
Let’s be honest: 2025 hasn’t been kind to anyone.
Inflation is eating into every financial plan, the market is edgy, people are tired, and no one has patience for motivational fluff anymore.
It’s in moments like these that the difference between
a boss
and
a leader
becomes crystal clear.
One holds a title.
The other holds a spine.
The boss yells, cuts budgets, demands “results by yesterday,” and writes “urgent optimizations” and “strategic alignment” on the whiteboard like they’re magic fixes.
A true leader… is a different story.
They bring a clear mind, an open heart, and grounded values.
And that’s the kind of leader we’re talking about today.
A good leader leads with goodwill. Not just KPIs.
Yes, we get it. You have numbers to deliver.
But if you hit your targets by stepping over people, you’ve built a toxic culture, not a success.
A real leader asks:
“Can I make a hard decision without crushing someone’s dignity?”
Before rushing into layoffs, they ask:
“Can I start by cutting my own bonus?
Can we reduce executive bonuses first?
Can I talk to the team honestly?
Can we build a decent transition plan for those affected?”
Because a leader isn’t just efficient.
They are, above all, human.
And humanity isn’t something you optimize every quarter.
A good leader doesn’t lie. Not even by staying silent.
In a crisis, people don’t need sweet lies “to keep them calm.”
They want the truth. They want to know what’s really happening to their job and future.
A leader doesn’t say, “Everything’s fine,” when the company is hanging by a thread.
They say:
“We’re facing challenges.
We don’t have all the answers.
But we know what we’re doing today.
And you’re not alone.”
People know when they’re being sold fluff.
And truth—spoken with respect—builds trust.
Fake optimism breaks it faster than any economic crash ever could.
A good leader has self-control. They don’t yell on calls.
Crisis is no excuse to explode.
It’s no excuse to dump stress on the team.
It’s no excuse for “that’s just how I get when I’m under pressure.”
A real leader breathes.
They pause.
They listen.
They choose with a clear head.
They don’t run on autopilot.
It’s Wednesday. Deadline is Friday. Client’s upset.
A weak leader: “PANIC!!!”
A good leader: “Okay. Let’s figure out what we keep, what we delegate, what we communicate. Let’s not treat every stressful situation like a medical emergency.”
Self-control doesn’t mean being cold.
It means staying grounded when everyone else is tense.
Because your team needs someone who holds the course, not someone who adds to the storm.
A good leader thinks about impact. Not just Q3.
Leadership is like a stone thrown into water, it creates ripples.
And the ripples go farther than you expect.
A true leader asks:
“What impact does this decision have on people, on clients, on the company’s future?”
They don’t take shortcuts just to hit a Q3 target.
Yes, you can push a poorly packaged product with aggressive marketing.
But you know the feedback will come.
And sometimes, a damaged reputation hurts more than a lost client.
So you choose to build things right.
Not just fast. Not just for the quarterly report.
But for a business that still stands a year from now.
Because what you build today... will speak for you tomorrow.
A good leader shows up every day. Not just when it’s on fire.
Leadership isn’t magic.
It’s not some hidden talent that appears when things go wrong.
It’s daily work.
Consistent decisions.
Culture grown with patience.
A true leader doesn’t just show up when there’s a crisis.
They build the culture, the processes, the people before the storm hits.
They run 1-on-1s.They ask for honest feedback.
They encourage autonomy.
And that’s why they’re the leader people rely on when the storm comes.
Because they didn’t disappear during “the good times.”
They don’t show up like a hero from nowhere.
They’re there. Always.
A good leader respects people. Even when stressed.
It’s not just about being polite.
It’s about treating every person like a partner, not like a tool.
True respect doesn’t show up in speeches.
It shows up in the small things:
How you reply to an email, even when you’re tired.
How you listen to an idea, even if it’s not perfect.
How you respond when someone makes a mistake, without bad intent.
In the end, people don’t leave because of company names.
They leave because of the leaders they no longer respect.
A good leader chooses simplicity.
When the ground feels shaky, the instinct is to complicate.
Add new procedures.
Add plans, KPIs, task forces, yet another tool no one believes in.
But a good leader does the opposite:
They pause.
They clean up.
They clarify.
They ask simple questions:
“What really matters now?
What can we cut without losing the soul of the business?
What must we keep?”
Because in chaotic times, clarity is a luxury.
And simplicity is what keeps things working under pressure.
You need three clear directions, communicated with care.
And a team that understands exactly what they need to do.
It’s like cooking:
Better to have three good ingredients than a chaotic dish with 12 spices.
Especially when people are hungry.
A good leader has a spine. They’re not for sale.
Pressure comes with the role.
And in tough times, compromises don’t knock politely, they kick the door in.
Sometimes you’re asked to look away.
To stay silent.
To approve something you know isn’t right.
“It’s fine. We just need to look good this quarter...”
But a real leader doesn’t shift direction every time the wind changes.
They don’t trade their values for a bonus or a quick win.
They don’t sacrifice the team just to shine in a report.
A good leader has a spine.
They say “no” when it’s hard.
They say “yes” when it matters.
And they go home knowing they were a human being, not just a CEO.
Because in the end, people don’t follow titles.
They follow character.
Real leadership starts where fear ends.
In place of a conclusion:
It’s easy to lead when everything is going well.
When the numbers grow, the clients cheer, and everyone’s patient.
But now, in 2025, the world needs something else.
Leaders who don’t run.
Who don’t fake it.
Who don’t shift blame.
We need real people, aware, grounded, leading with heart, clarity, and backbone.
People who build not just numbers, but trust, character, and the future.
And if you’re one of them...
or you want to become one..,
I’m glad we’re on the same boat.
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