How much bad behavior are we willing to admit that we tolerate when we see it from leaders?

We've all been there. The eye rolls during meetings. The public criticism that should have been private feedback. The "just the way they are" shrug when someone consistently dismisses others' ideas. The "they're having a bad day" excuse that becomes a regular occurrence.

"Don't like it, but they get stuff done." "High-stress situations bring out the worst in everyone." "That's just their communication style."

Every time we normalize poor behavior from leaders, we're not just enabling them, we're teaching everyone around us what we actually value.

Results over respect? Efficiency over empathy? Getting things done over how we treat people while we do it?

I want to be clear: leaders today are under unprecedented pressure. Constantly shifting directives, tighter budgets, the relentless pace of technology, demands for efficiency, widespread burnout. The stress is real, and they need support.

But here's the hard question: If we don't speak up, who will? We are enabling this behavior by staying silent. Every time we choose comfort over courage, we're not just allowing it to continue, we're actively participating in it.

So how much of this are we willing to own? And more importantly: what are we willing to do to change it?

#Leadership #WorkplaceCulture #Accountability #LeadershipCoaching