Jaime Waydo was coached that great managers change their style for every employee. So she became a chameleon—showing up differently in every room, adapting to each person. She thought she was being an excellent manager.
The feedback she got at Apple shattered that belief: “People are very uncertain about how they need to show up for you because you’re different in every room you’re in.” Her inconsistency made people fearful, not supported.
The problem wasn’t empathy or adaptability. It was that she was leaving herself to be where others were, rather than holding space for them while remaining centered in her own truth. When a leader has no consistent center, people can’t predict them, can’t channel them, and can’t trust the ground they’re standing on.
Related Concepts
- You can’t be seen if you’re not being yourself
- Codependence comes from not owning wants
- People want connection, not perfection