STRUCK BY: What I Hope We Learned From Zelensky

Published 4 months ago • 1 min read

Nearly all of the leaders I’ve coached struggle with conflict. Some might not want to be perceived as “choosing sides”. Others tell me they don’t like arguing. And for most leaders, delivering difficult feedback can feel so hard because they simply don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. The driver behind most of these conflict-avoidant behaviors is that many leaders just really want to be liked.

You may well be asking what on earth this has to do with Volodymyr Zelensky. Most of us have seen at least part of his high-conflict meeting with President Trump and VP Vance last week. The most significant takeaway was how Zelensky chose to navigate an extreme degree of (very public) conflict. He led with integrity. Maybe not everyone liked him, but I'd say most respected how he handled himself.

How? He was clear on the facts, he remained firm in his convictions, and he stayed (relatively) calm in the face of increasing escalation. I think it’s worth noting that he also showed emotion. This is often viewed as a big no-no at work, but Zelensky is a powerful example for letting your emotions show. It can inspire others to show how deeply you hold your beliefs and how strongly you stand in integrity.

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