The Kintsugi leader
In Japan, there is an art form called Kintsugi.
When a piece of pottery breaks, artisans repair it with lacquer mixed with powdered gold.
The philosophy is that the piece is more beautiful and valuable because it was broken and has a history.
The cracks are not something to hide.
They’re part of its story and strength.
Modern leadership culture often asks leaders to hide their cracks.
To pretend they've never failed.
Never struggled.
Never been broken by a professional or personal challenge.
This creates brittle, inauthentic leaders.
And that inauthenticity is a direct threat to your business.
Brittle leaders who pretend to be perfect create cultures of fear where no one feels safe to admit a mistake.
Meaning problems get hidden until they are catastrophic.
They struggle to build genuine trust and loyalty.
Leading to higher team turnover.
And when real pressure hits, these brittle leaders are the first to snap.
Making reactive decisions that can cost the company significantly.
Our coaching philosophy is grounded in the spirit of Kintsugi.
It's a confidential space to look at the cracks.
The past failures.
The current struggles.
The fears.
And see them not as weaknesses.
But as sources of wisdom, resilience, and strength.
A leader who has integrated their broken pieces is far stronger and more relatable than one who pretends to be perfect.
Let's build stronger, more resilient leaders by honoring their whole story.
