The people you lead don’t need another friend.

But they do need someone who is invested in their success.

They don’t need a buddy. 

They don’t need someone who cares more about being liked than being effective. 

They don’t need someone who will validate all their frustrations and tell them they are infallible.

They need a leader who wants them to be successful, even if it means telling them something they don’t want to hear.

They need a leader who will encourage them when they are doing something right.

They need a leader who will correct them when they are missing the mark.

They need a leader who will offer this kind of feedback over and over again so they always know where they stand. 

They need a leader who will give them good news AND bad news, because a leader who only does one or the other isn’t someone they will trust.

The people you lead don’t need you to be their friend.

But they do need you to be so invested in their success that you refuse to avoid a difficult conversation that will help them win.

TRY THIS: Who on your team needs a high five this week? Who needs some tough love? Help your people see the things they are doing well. Celebrate those successes with them. Help your people see where they could improve. Coach them through the process of upgrading skills that could be better.

My free PDF, “The 5 Secrets of Impossibly Effective Teams,” will show you the simple leadership moves that help teams unlock their full potential and deliver outsized results, without burning out. Grab your copy now at geoffwelch.com/secrets