In a recent LinkedIn post, Christine Carrillo discusses how leaders can build lasting teams by treating people with kindness and presence. This article reports on Carrillo’s post and her perspective; it is not an article written by Carrillo.
“They do not lead with perfection.
They lead with presence.”
Carrillo frames leadership as a relationship shaped by everyday interactions, rather than by an image of executive toughness. She describes leaders who second-guess their decisions and wonder whether they should be “more demanding” or more “CEO-like.” In her account, employees may remember something quite different from a manager’s perceived missteps: moments when they felt seen, supported, or trusted.
Small acts can leave a lasting impression
According to Carrillo, employees may carry the memory of a manager asking how they were really doing, defending them in a meeting, or believing in them before they believed in themselves. She argues that these interactions can matter more to an employee’s experience than missed deadlines that occupy a leader’s thoughts.
“They remember the moment you saw them.”
The point in Carrillo’s post is not that operational performance is irrelevant. Rather, she highlights the human dimension of management: the way a leader responds to people beyond their immediate output. Her examples suggest that attention and advocacy can communicate respect in ways that formal authority alone cannot.
Leading without copying someone else’s style
Carrillo also challenges leaders who adopt approaches that do not fit them. She says that trying to imitate another person’s leadership style can distract from a more direct priority: treating team members as people. In her view, kindness is compatible with building a serious business, rather than a concession that weakens leadership.
From individual care to team stability
She connects this approach to retention, referrals, and reputation, arguing that a team is more likely to stay and contribute when employees feel they are building alongside their leader. Carrillo presents those outcomes as a result of how people are treated, not simply as products of systems or demands for greater effort.
“The highest leverage move is treating people like humans.”
That claim is the post’s central prescription. Carrillo’s message is that leaders can focus less on appearing perfectly tough and more on showing up consistently for their teams. She closes by urging readers to “start leading like you,” reinforcing her argument that authenticity and consideration can shape the experience of working together.
For business leaders, Carrillo’s post offers a concise case for seeing kindness as part of the work of leadership. Her emphasis is on practical moments of care and support—and on the possibility that those moments influence whether people want to keep building with a team.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Christine Carrillo on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on November 4, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →