Filipino professionals often confuse endurance with character, not realizing that self respect sometimes requires choosing discomfort over familiarity.
Power can put someone in charge, but real leadership is proven through consistency, discipline, and the courage to hold yourself to the same standards you expect from others.
Being “too nice” may keep the peace in the short term, but for leaders, real authority comes from balancing kindness with accountability by setting standards, saying the hard truths, and earning respect beyond the workplace.