- This topic has 4 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 3 days, 9 hours ago by Rabecca Chika Chikange.
One of my most challenging leadership moments came when I was appointed to manage a team that included a close friend, the kind you spend weekends with, share frustrations with, and navigate life with. The perception was obvious: people expected I’d treat her differently. Even she worried about how our friendship would blend with work.
We had an honest conversation about drawing the line, and I stayed committed to leading with fairness. The moment a team member said, “Chika, I thought you’d favor her, but you’ve been balanced,” I knew authenticity had spoken louder than perception.
Leadership will always invite assumptions. What matters is remaining grounded in purpose.
Have you ever felt misunderstood because of how you lead?
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One of my most challenging leadership moments came when I was appointed to manage a team that included a close friend, the kind you spend weekends with, share frustrations with, and navigate life with. The perception was obvious: people expected I’d treat her differently. Even she worried about how our friendship would blend with work.
We had an honest conversation about drawing the line, and I stayed committed to leading with fairness. The moment a team member said, “Chika, I thought you’d favor her, but you’ve been balanced,” I knew authenticity had spoken louder than perception.
Leadership will always invite assumptions. What matters is remaining grounded in purpose.
Have you ever felt misunderstood because of how you lead?
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For me it’s always been about how much my culture and context show up in my leadership style. As someone who works with people across borders who speak different languages with different ways of working that are rooted in diverse cultures, I find myself doing a lot of self-reflection to ensure that I’m mindful of how my cultural beliefs show up in the everyday.
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