Who you take with you matters most.
Let’s talk about the people around you.
When you’re leading through change, one of the hardest truths to face is this: Not everyone who's been part of your journey so far is meant to be part of your future.
That’s not a betrayal. Or, a lack of loyalty on your part. That’s just reality.
Change reveals alignment.
And, misalignment.
You feel it in the 1-1 meetings that drag.
In the vague tension you can’t name.
In the teammate who says all the right things, but has already checked out.
In the way you find yourself holding back or over-explaining or justifying, when you used to lead with ease.
It’s not personal.
But, it is costly.
Because every time you make excuses for someone who’s no longer aligned, you’re paying an invisible tax.
On your clarity.
On your energy.
On your momentum.
You’re not just building a team.
You’re building a future.
And, your future will rise, or fall, based on who you bring with you.
This doesn’t mean you need to clean house.
It does mean you need to tell the truth.
Start with this:
Who’s still all-in?
Who’s growing with you, not just working for you?
Who’s carrying weight, not creating drag?
More importantly:
Who sees where you’re headed and wants to go there too?
If the answer is murky, it’s time to get clear.
Because, amigo, change requires energy.
You don’t have time to spend it managing old dynamics, nursing fragile egos, or babysitting C-players.
And here’s the kicker: your team already feels it.
They see who’s coasting.
They know who’s checked out.
They wonder why you haven’t addressed it.
If you don’t make the hard call, someone else eventually will, with their feet.
Your job isn’t to keep everyone comfortable.
It’s to keep the mission clear.
Sometimes that means realigning roles.
Sometimes it means rewriting expectations.
Sometimes it means parting ways. With respect. And, with resolve.
You can lead with compassion and still make tough calls.
The best leaders do both.
Because when you delay the conversation, you dilute the culture.
You send a signal:
“This is okay.”
“Mediocrity is safe here.”
“Vision matters… but not enough to act.”
That’s how culture slips.
Not with a bang, but with a shrug.
Who you take with you shapes everything.
In seasons of change, you don’t just need talented people.
You need aligned people.
People who want to build the future with you.
People who don’t need to be sold on it every quarter.
People who challenge you in the right ways and carry water without being asked.
Those people? Keep them close.
Reinvest. Reinvite. Recommit.
Everyone else?
It’s time to check for fit, not just performance.
Try this:
This week, take stock of your inner circle. Not just your exec team, but your right hand-go-to people. Everybody who’s close to you.
Ask yourself:
Who’s raising the bar?
Who’s stuck in an old story of who we were?
Who do I trust with what’s next?
And, then, get brave.
Have the conversation.
Clear the air.
Tighten the circle.
You’re not doing this to be ruthless.
You’re doing it to protect what’s sacred.
The mission deserves alignment.
And, you deserve a team that runs with you, not just behind you.
This week’s reflection:
Who still belongs on the journey with you?
And, who have you outgrown, quietly, but truthfully?
The most loving thing you can do for someone out of alignment is set them free. And, the most powerful thing you can do for your future is to walk with the right people.
Build the kind of team that doesn’t flinch when the weather changes.
Build the kind of team that becomes your advantage in the storm.
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Steve Knox | Carmel, CA
\\\ Thanks for reading. I hope this post (and series) is challenging you to take a look at your relationship with change. Reach out to me if you need a bit of outside insight, or if you find yourself stuck making a hard call. Here’s to doing the heavy lifting of leadership. Until next week. Be honest. Be you. Much love.