[Book Review & Practical Record] Why I, who didn't want to be disliked, found the courage to keep my distance: 'The Leader's Mask'

Hello. Today, I will be writing my honest impressions and a record of my practice regarding The Leader's Mask, which I read recently.

Why I picked up this book

I'll be honest. Right now, I was under immense stress as a team leader.
Different rules for each department, implicit rules and workloads that vary depending on the boss. I didn't know what the right answer was, and I felt hazy every day.

The 'wrong image of a leader' I believed in

Before reading this book, I thought like this:
'The leader takes the initiative and produces results. By watching their back, subordinates and juniors will think, "I have to do it too."'
It was a completely player-oriented mindset. But reading this book was a shock.

The realization that hit me the hardest

The author says this: The more excellent you were as a player, the higher the risk of failing as a leader.. What I was doing was like letting cars drive however they wanted without setting any traffic rules. I realized that creating rules so that subordinates and juniors can move forward with peace of mind is the true job of a leader.

The 5 perspectives presented in the book

The author lists 5 points as the 'Leader's Mask.' Instead of the atmosphere of the workplace, creating verbalized rules, not being equal but clarifying positions, moving people with profit rather than personal charm, looking at results rather than processes, and choosing future growth over the present. All of these were shocking to me, as I had prioritized kindness and human sentiment.

What I felt after putting it into practice

Honestly, I had anxiety, thinking, 'Won't I be disliked if I give guidance like this?' But the book asserts that a company is not a place to fill loneliness. This also resonates with Hiroyuki Nishimura's words:
'A company is a place where you get paid in exchange for doing things you don't want to do.'. A company is not a place to make friends. A leader needs to intentionally keep their distance to maintain equality. Even if you are thought of as a 'nice person' in the moment with kind words, it won't have a lasting impact. It's harsh, but I felt it was the truth.

Points that were useful in practice

What I especially wanted to put into practice was clarifying 'who does what by when', and the importance of being decisive as a boss. Also, the way to deal with cases where a subordinate's goals are not met was helpful. It's the idea of adding a process one step before the goal. Since people only change through experience, I'll try letting them do it first. This also made sense to me.

Points of concern and questions

One thing that concerned me was the example of a disappointing leader (the type who makes friends through backbiting) who rebels against the president's instructions and forms a small clique. There is someone like that in my company, too. The book says they should be weeded out, but if you don't have the authority of a president, how should you deal with them? This is a challenge for the future.

Summary: The courage to wear a mask

The title 'The Leader's Mask' contains the meaning of the psychological term 'persona.' A leader has a mask to fulfill the role of a leader. It's not about throwing away your true self or kindness, but
wearing the mask necessary for the role. I learned that this courage is what moves the team forward. This is a book I definitely want those who are struggling with leadership tasks or those who cannot escape a player-oriented mindset to read.

If you are interested in this book, please pick it up and read it.