I lived the day behaving completely differently from my usual nature. I chose to exercise hard power—something I have rarely, if ever, displayed.
Normally, I carry myself in a way that avoids discomfort for others, leading with empathy, care, and soft power.
This experiment took me far out of my comfort zone. It felt unsettling, even nerve-wracking, to act in ways that do not come naturally to me. Yet, stepping into this opposite-self allowed me to discover more about myself—my limits, my fears, my vulnerabilities, and also my hidden capabilities.
Soft power, my natural style, makes interactions feel good for both others and myself.
Hard power, on the other hand, carries risks: it can trigger resistance, judgment, or even hostility.
It demands energy to manage the reactions it provokes. But by deliberately exposing myself to this discomfort, I gained new insights. No matter how much empathetic and soft leadership is celebrated, in patriarchal societies hard power is still the style most admired and taken seriously.
This exercise opened a new window into my personality and leadership. It showed me how different leadership styles impact people in profoundly different ways.
More importantly, it reminded me that for both professional and personal growth, it is essential to experiment, to stretch beyond what feels natural and comfortable, and to test not only our strengths but also our boundaries.
#LeadershipDiary