06/24/2026
Years ago, when I managed a team in private aviation, I had a habit.
Whenever there was a mistake that needed correcting, a process that needed updating, or a problem that needed solving, I'd leave notes for my team. Not because I wanted to criticize them, but because I wanted them to have the information they needed to succeed.
At the bottom of those notes, I'd sign my name and draw a little heart.
To me, the heart meant something simple:
"I'm on your side."
"This isn't personal."
"We're all human, and we're all learning."
I thought I was softening the message with kindness.
Then one day I learned that some people viewed those hearts as condescending.
A heart.
The very symbol I used to communicate care was interpreted by some as a jab.
It stuck with me because it taught me something important about leadership.
You can deliver constructive feedback with the best intentions. You can lead with empathy. You can choose kindness over criticism. And still, some people will experience it differently than you intended.
Leadership isn't about controlling how every message is received. That's impossible.
It's about making sure your intentions are rooted in respect, your feedback is honest, and your heart is in the right place.
I've learned that when you're responsible for helping people grow, not everyone will love being corrected. Sometimes the discomfort of the message gets attached to the messenger. Sometimes kindness gets mistaken for sarcasm. Sometimes a heart gets mistaken for a weapon.
But I'd rather be remembered as someone who cared enough to communicate than someone who stayed silent to avoid being misunderstood.
Because growth requires feedback.
And the best feedback is delivered with both honesty and compassion.
Even if someone calls the heart condescending.
❤️
