Polite and velvety leaders, who take care to avoid bruising others, are generally not as effective at forcing change.

Summary

This quote suggests that leaders who are excessively polite and gentle in their approach tend to be less successful in driving meaningful change. The term "velvety" implies a smooth and non-confrontational demeanor, which may result in avoiding conflict and potentially causing a lack of impact. Effective leadership sometimes requires the courage to challenge the status quo, confront difficult situations, and push for necessary changes, even if it means bruising or upsetting others momentarily. Hence, this quote highlights the notion that leaders must balance politeness with assertiveness to achieve real transformation.

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