Silence Kills More Than Words

Summary

The article reflects on the lack of empathy and its consequences in leadership, as exemplified by a director who, despite her promotion and relocation, is met with silence and indifference from her former colleagues due to her past behavior.

Abstract

The author recounts a recent virtual meeting where a director announced her promotion and relocation to another European city, expressing her dissatisfaction with the new environment. The director's previous boastful and unpleasant behavior had made her unpopular among her colleagues, who responded to her news with silence and a lack of empathy similar to what she had shown them. The article suggests that true leadership involves empathy and caring for colleagues, qualities the director apparently lacked. Her departure was met with relief rather than regret, highlighting the importance of treating others well in a professional setting.

Opinions

The director's complaints during the video call were seen as a way to avoid showing off her success.
Despite her previous arrogance and negative attitude, the director's colleagues did not express any concern or happiness for her new role.
The colleagues' silence and lack of engagement with the director's news indicated a sense of relief and possibly schadenfreude at her departure.
The author implies that the director's leadership was ineffective due to her lack of empathy and poor treatment of colleagues.
The article suggests that leadership should be focused on others and that the director failed in this aspect, as evidenced by the lack of emotional connection during her farewell.
The author believes that few individuals possess the qualities necessary for effective leadership.

Adieu!

Last week during a video call we were informed that one of the directors had been promoted to a key role, and she had moved to another European city.

While on the call, she started whining and complaining about the weather, the new colleagues, food, perhaps out of a desire not to brag and show off how good a manager she was.

Yes, I guess moving to another country and changing your job are stressful moments in someone’s life.

It’s funny if you consider how she used to boast and shout at everybody during the previous meetings: she thought she was the best. Not a nice colleague indeed, rather someone I used to avoid as much as possible.

The interesting part of the call was everybody’s reaction. We were all silent. One manager asked her about some operational details, another one made a joke about finally getting rid of her, but nothing else.

Questions like how are you? Are you happy? What are you going to do there? Or we are sorry you are leaving, were not uttered.

Nobody cared, or better everybody felt relieved. We were finally free of that obnoxious person.

If you treat your colleagues badly or you don’t care about them, it means you are not an empathetic leader despite your position. You failed notwithstanding your role and money, you are alone, and you will not be missed.

Leadership is always about others, but I am afraid the harsh truth is that few people have what it takes to guide others.

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