Why 'Nice' Leaders Fail (and What Great Ones Do Differently)

In many organisations, niceness is the mask that hides fear and a lack of clarity.
‘Nice’ leaders smile in meetings, nod in agreement, and write warm Slack or Teams messages — all while sidestepping the conversations their teams desperately need.
They delay decisions, dodge discomfort, and use kindness as a shield from accountability.

But let’s be clear: niceness without clarity isn’t leadership. It’s self-protection dressed up as empathy.