Being hurt, triggered or dysregulated doesn’t exempt any of us from accountability for our behaviour.
Being hurt, triggered or dysregulated doesn’t exempt any of us from accountability for our behaviour.
Not before. Not during. Not after.
Over the years, both in corporate leadership and business, I’ve had hard conversations with people.
I’ve managed underperformance.
I’ve challenged poor behaviour.
I’ve held boundaries.
I’ve called things out when lines were crossed.
I’ve addressed poor service.
I’ve asked difficult questions.
I’ve said things people didn’t want to hear.
And yes… that means there are people who won’t like me.
That’s life.
I think we’ve created this strange culture where people talk endlessly about honesty, integrity, leadership and communication… until they’re on the receiving end of accountability.
Then suddenly the conversation changes.
Now before anyone jumps to conclusions, this isn’t about lacking compassion.
Compassion matters deeply.
But so does accountability.
Because behaviour doesn’t exist in isolation.
One uncomfortable conversation rarely appears out of nowhere. There’s usually context. Patterns. Decisions. Actions. Boundaries that were ignored. Conversations avoided. Behaviour that led us there in the first place.
And I think that nuance has been lost in a lot of situations.
We’ve become very comfortable talking about emotional impact. Much less comfortable talking about personal responsibility.
In my opinion and experience, accountability and compassion can coexist.
You can acknowledge someone’s trauma without excusing harmful behaviour.
You can understand someone’s past without removing responsibility from the present.
You can have empathy for someone and still hold a boundary.
That’s maturity. That’s leadership. That’s integrity.
One of the strongest values I’ve carried from corporate into business is: Do the right thing. Not the easy thing.
And sometimes the right thing is uncomfortable.
Sometimes it’s having the conversation nobody wants to have.
Sometimes it’s setting a boundary.
Sometimes it’s accepting feedback that stings.
Sometimes it’s reflecting honestly on the part we played in a situation.
Sometimes it’s holding people accountable when their behaviour doesn’t align with the values, standards or positions of trust they promote.
That’s not a lack of compassion. It’s accountability.
What’s interesting to me is how often people talk about healing, self-awareness and growth… whilst avoiding accountability for the impact of their own behaviour.
Because self-awareness isn’t just learning the language of growth.
It’s applying it when it’s uncomfortable.
And no… I’m not saying any of this from a pedestal. I’ve got things wrong in my life too.
Of course I have.
But I will always respect someone who reflects, takes ownership, apologises where needed and learns… far more than someone who builds an identity around being wronged whilst ignoring the bigger picture.
And for me, that will always come back to my values...
Kindness.
Loyalty.
Integrity.
Because kindness without accountability helps nobody.
And loyalty without honesty isn’t integrity.
Doing the right thing… even when it would be easier not to.
Not perfection. Not performance. Not pretending to have it all figured out.
Because real growth requires more than emotional vocabulary... It requires accountability too.
Hi, I’m Leanne
A Career Change & Business Growth Strategist with 30 years of global corporate experience helping ambitious people navigate growth, change, leadership and the messy middle in between.
My work sits at the intersection of strategy, clarity, accountability and honest conversations… whether that’s building a business, changing careers, increasing visibility, strengthening confidence or making difficult decisions.
I believe compassion and accountability can coexist.
I believe clarity changes everything.
And I believe doing the right thing matters more than doing the easy thing.
If you’re looking for practical support, strategic thinking and someone who will challenge you as much as champion you, you’re in the right place.
