Why is it that when most people hear the word consideration, they don’t immediately think of high performance?
Why do they believe that virtues like consideration, kindness, respect, and humility aren’t vital elements of a leader’s DNA?
I found myself thinking about this recently after meeting a friend for coffee. He’s one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I know. He also happens to be the cofounder of one of the highest-performing regional businesses in his industry.
His company didn’t grow because he dominated rooms or imposed his will. It grew because he is exceptional at connecting with people. He networks naturally, listens deeply, and understands how to position the business in his clients’ and prospects’ minds. He also has an uncanny ability to attract the region’s top talent to the business, giving it a significant competitive advantage.
Consideration is his secret weapon, but many undervalue it.
They’ve all been brainwashed to believe that leadership is really about force, and unfortunately, that narrative is everywhere.
We celebrate the bold, aggressive, and relentless.
We glorify the leader who is pushy, pompous, and powerful…but should we?
One of the things I admire most about my friend is that he instinctively understands that consideration is not the opposite of performance. It is one of its primary drivers!
He knows that when you are consistently considerate, trust accumulates.
He knows that considerate behavior builds better teams.
He also knows that consideration leads to excellent implementation and delivery of world-class service.
Here’s how.
- Consideration reduces friction. Most implementation problems aren’t about intelligence or effort; they’re about misalignment. When leaders take the time to think through how a decision will land, how it will affect workloads, and how it connects to larger goals, they prevent confusion before it starts. By taking the time to consider where other people are coming from and having conversations to expand understanding, you reduce the drift and drag that come from confusion. Energy that would have been spent untangling misunderstandings gets redirected toward progress.
- Consideration improves decision quality. Leaders who pause to factor in different perspectives surface risks earlier. They anticipate downstream effects rather than react to them. That foresight leads to fewer surprises and more stable momentum. Work becomes more efficient because teams aren’t constantly pivoting to clean up avoidable mistakes.
- Consideration increases commitment. When people feel respected and understood, they don’t simply comply with expectations; they commit to them. Leaders get more buy-in when they are considerate, and voluntary engagement leads to better outcomes.
- Consideration leads to sustainable performance. Pressure without awareness almost always erodes morale. Expectations applied with empathy, clarity, and realism create focus instead of fear. A considerate leader can stretch a team without breaking it because they understand the difference between productive tension and destructive stress.
So here is the subtle shift:
Stop treating consideration as a weakness, and start to celebrate it in others.
If you want it to become a valued virtue in your organization, make it visible.
- Call it out when you see it.
- Build it into your leadership DNA.
- Talk about how consideration creates better results, and most importantly, model it under pressure.
Anyone can be considerate when things are easy. Doing it when deadlines tighten is what makes it cultural.
And remember: consideration isn’t softness. It’s disciplined awareness applied in the service of performance.
Treat consideration as a core expectation of leadership. Champion it consistently and set the example that others will follow.
