Authority distorts reality in both directions. People either kiss up to you or attack you for no reason—and try to act normal after years of that.
Everyone wants to please the leader: people don’t give bad news, don’t give real feedback, don’t show their full selves. This leads to $100,000 polished videos just to get CEO budget approval instead of simply saying “here’s the situation, here’s what we’re wrestling with.” It also creates isolation—most CEOs feel alone, without real support, managing everyone.
Meanwhile, other people project rebellion: “fuck you, don’t tell me what to do.” Studies show people in power for extended periods start losing empathy. A comedian described fame as “walking around with Alzheimer’s—everybody’s very sweet and they know you but you know nobody.”
“The spit at the top of the organization is a waterfall at the bottom.”
A small criticism from the CEO can create million-dollar changes at the bottom. Three levels of management spent their time managing the response of the person above them rather than focusing on results.
The antidote: leaders need to actively humanize themselves—make fun of themselves, invite challenge, make sure everyone feels seen.
Related Concepts
- Leaders must say what they want cleanly
- Complimenting others’ work makes you the authority in the room