On The Court Series: Are you a people pleaser?
Transform challenges Into opportunities by getting on the leadership court with a brand new practice.
At The Alchemy Group, we’re passionate about equipping leaders with transformative practices that elevate teams, strengthen relationships, and achieve sustainable results.
In this week’s video, one of our executive coaches, Sylvain Newton, shares a practice that has consistently transformed leadership teams from stagnant to high performing:
Serving vs. Pleasing.
At first glance, they might look similar — the impact, however, is vastly different.
Recently, Sylvain worked with a leader struggling with high team attrition. Going into the engagement, he expected a tough, overly directive leader. Instead, he met someone kind, agreeable, and well-liked. So, what was missing?
As Sylvain dug deeper, he uncovered a belief holding her back: that giving honest feedback might disrupt harmony. In her effort to please, she had stopped truly serving her team.
Once she saw that avoiding feedback was harming performance and morale, everything shifted. She embraced authentic leadership — offering praise and challenge. Over time, attrition decreased, and a culture of growth and high performance emerged.
Here’s what you’ll discover:
Why people-pleasing undermines team performance — even when intentions are good
How to give feedback that serves growth, not just preserves comfort
A powerful mindset shift to lead with authenticity, care, and impact
Reflection Question
Where in your leadership might you be pleasing instead of serving?
Are you avoiding feedback to maintain harmony — and what’s the cost?
We are curious to hear your thoughts—let us know!
P.S. Here's a powerful way into a "HELL YES" .... by saying "hell yes" to the Alchemy Leadership Experience
