Leadership Disconnect: The Rules You Promote Should Start With You

I’m on a roll tonight.

Maybe it’s because after dialysis, once the “dialysis hangover” feeling starts to fade — a feeling I remember from another lifetime over 17 years ago — I start connecting dots.

Tonight, something stood out.

Nirav Tolia posted on X about the World Cup, his family, and how important soccer is to them—a proud parent moment.

I understand that.

However, the picture appeared to include his child during a game with other children and teammates clearly visible in the background.

Is posting a photo from a public event automatically illegal?

No.

That is not the point.

The point is awareness, judgment, and understanding of the community you lead.

The CEO of Nextdoor runs a platform where neighbors regularly discuss safety, privacy, strangers taking photos, and concerns about their children’s images and likeness being shared online without permission.

Parents ask:

“Who took this picture?”

“Why is my child online?”

“Did anyone ask before posting this?”

These are conversations happening on his own platform.

However, the person leading that platform seems comfortable sharing a moment in which other children may be included in a public post without their parents' consent.

That disconnect matters.

Leadership is not just what you say on a podcast.

Leadership is not just about kindness, trust, neighbors, and community.

Leadership is demonstrating an understanding of the concerns of the people using your product.

This is bigger than one picture.

It is about being connected to your customers' reality.

A CEO sets the example.

If your platform promotes trust, safety, respect, and community awareness — those principles should not stop when you log off the app.

You cannot build trust while appearing disconnected from what your own users are concerned about.

The community is speaking.

The question is:

Is leadership listening?

Join the discussion on NielFlamm.com.