Leadership Tax

Tuesday, September 9

Every leader pays a tax.

It’s not financial, it’s emotional.
The tax you pay for leading is criticism, resistance, misunderstanding, and doubt.

People won’t always see your intent. They won’t always agree with your decisions. Some will push back, some will misjudge, some will complain. You can’t please everyone all the time.

That’s the tax of leadership.

And too many leaders waste energy resenting this. They take criticism personally, get bitter, or shrink back. They let the leadership tax change how they lead.

But great leaders accept it. They know the tax isn’t a penalty, it’s the cost of influence. It’s the reality of the role you are in.

If you don’t feel this, you most likely aren’t leading. You are trying to create consensus an cater to everyone. Avoiding the tax only comes with bigger penalties down the road.

So when the criticism or questions come up, don’t fight them or run from them. Realize that this is part of the territory. These are the days that make you stronger.

Pay the leadership tax today. Keep leading.
​
​
Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-Kevin