With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my mind naturally shifts into storytelling mode. Stories are how we teach the biggest lessons—because they stick, and they make even the hardest truths easier to understand.
This week, I was reminded of a very real (and very uncomfortable) lesson about character.
I won’t name names, but I interacted with someone operating at what I’d call an “assistant-level” in terms of authority and experience—and yet, they were unnecessarily rude. Short, dismissive, and clearly convinced their small title justified that behavior.
What made the timing so striking was that, throughout the same week, I was also working with high-level CEOs and successful founders.
And here’s the honest truth:
The higher you go, the kinder people become.
The real A-players—the ones who have actually built something meaningful—are more patient, more understanding, and far more enjoyable to work with. On the other hand, those who rely on rudeness to assert importance are often the ones still trying to prove their value.
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Kindness as a Leadership Strategy
Kindness isn’t weakness—it’s a strategy.
It’s how I run my business.
It’s how we treat our clients.
And it’s how we operate internally as a team.
Because the way you treat others—especially those who can’t directly benefit you—reveals everything about how secure you are in your own position.
The Hidden Cost of Performative Kindness
This also ties into another challenge I saw recently: leaders who present themselves as “kind” externally but create toxic environments within their own teams.
That’s not leadership—that’s performance.
And that kind of internal toxicity quietly damages everything: morale, progress, and long-term growth.
A Thanksgiving Reflection on Leadership
This Thanksgiving, my reflection is simple:
Your title doesn’t define your success—your character does.
Grace, respect, and consistency are the real markers of strong leadership. And when someone defaults to rudeness, it’s rarely about power—it’s often about insecurity and lack of clarity.
Wishing you a holiday filled with kindness, clarity, and restoration.
Lara
