Confidentiality protects legitimate interests, but when it becomes a blanket answer to fair questions, it signals that integrity is optional and that explanations are being withheld not for safety, but for convenience or power.
Effective leaders do not wait for ideal conditions. They shape outcomes by reading power dynamics, setting direction early, and moving with intent even when uncertainty dominates the environment.
In leadership, being liked is fragile currency. The moment standards are enforced or hard decisions are made, affection fades, revealing why respect, not approval, is what actually sustains authority.