And What If You Are Ruthless?
It seems the subject continues to resonate.
This time, a reader responded with a pointed — and rather clever — remark:
“And what if you’re also ruthless?”
It may sound like a joke, but the question cuts deeper than it seems.
Because in leadership, beyond thick skin and long memory, a certain hardness is often required.
Not cruelty, but resolve. The strength to bear pressure, make difficult calls, and withstand the discomfort of disapproval when the role demands it.
True ruthlessness, in this context, is not about being cold or dismissive. It is about acting without being held hostage by the need to be liked. It is the clarity that comes from focusing on what must be done — even when it will not win applause.
Put together thick skin, sharp memory, and a stomach built for turbulence… and you are edging closer to the anatomy of a leader who lasts.
And yes — a touch of humour always helps. Because at a certain altitude, even that becomes part of the equipment.