VIDEO:Being the only one in the room can feel heavy. It can also be your edge.

Being the only one in the room can be a heavy feeling. 
It can also be your edge.

(Probably shouldn't say this out loud but)... Leaders will be judged regardless of their actions.

This week, Andy Byron got caught on Coldplay's kiss cam with Astronomer's Head of HR. He's married. She wasn't his wife. He resigned.

The judgment and reaction were immediate.

Leaders are rightly held to higher standards, both in and outside the office. 

However, I've noticed something else: they also get judged harshly for doing the right things, even when it's hard.

- Standing up for a team member being scapegoated for a systemic failure? You're "not loyal to leadership."

- Push back when a client asks you to do something that's not in their best interest? You're "being difficult and losing us revenue."

- Refuse to throw a junior employee under the bus for your mistake? You're "not protecting the firm's reputation."

Being different to other leaders - holding yourself and others to higher standards - comes with costs.

Marginalization. Isolation. Reputation damage.

But here's the thing: When you consistently choose what's right over what's easy, you earn the trust of people who share your values. 

You're building the kind of place people want to work in and the kind of leader people want to work with.

We all make mistakes. I've certainly had my share.

But there's a difference between being judged for your failures and being judged for your principles.

We don't become better leaders by judging others, but by:
- accepting our own failures and weaknesses
- acknowledging our mistakes
- closing the gap between the values on our walls and our actions.

The leaders people trust don't blend in with the existing culture.
They do the right thing when it's uncomfortable.
They speak up when others stay silent.
They walk the talk.

Some people won't like it and will judge you harshly. 
Some opportunities will pass you by.

But the right people who share your values will want to work with you.

Because integrity that builds trust isn't just good business.

It's the only sustainable way to lead.

If you'd like to find out more, go to the link HERE and I'll show you. 

Here's what I know for sure: no one wants a leader they can't trust. Your clients, teams, colleagues - they don't need to be working with or for a leader they don't trust. So why are we doing it? 🤷🏼‍♀️