“I Must Be Detached” to “I Will Be Connected”
ALIGN Trait: Character
Subconscious Myth: “I must be detached.”
Conscious Alignment: “I will be connected”
Art Imitating Life: Succession and the Cold Distance of Control
Logan Roy, the patriarch of Succession, ruled with isolation. His distance was his dominance. Emotions were liabilities. Relationships were transactional. Trust? A rare, dangerous currency.
The result? Chaos disguised as a kingdom. Detachment felt like control—but it was actually collapse in slow motion.
The SHIFT Matrix in Action
Situation
You’re successful, respected, and… isolated.
Your calendar is full, but your connections are shallow.
Your decisions are made in boardrooms, but rarely on the ground floor.
Your team executes, but doesn’t engage.
Somewhere along the way, presence got replaced by position.
Habits
You may be:
- Withholding feedback to “keep things professional”
- Avoiding difficult conversations out of self-protection
- Leading meetings but rarely listening
- Showing up in form, but not in relationship
These habits reinforce a myth that detachment equals strength. But the strongest leaders build bridges—not walls.
Insight
The myth says, “If I get too close, I’ll lose credibility.”
The truth? Connection earns credibility.
Real respect isn’t created by distance. It’s deepened by presence.
The conscious alignment is:
“I will be connected.”
“The opposite of connection isn’t conflict. It’s indifference.”
Formulation
To shift from detachment to connection:
Do This Now:
- Make space for relational check-ins in your 1:1s. Ask: “What’s something you’re proud of this week—outside of work?”
- Attend a frontline team meeting and just listen. Not to respond—just to learn.
- Name the human first. Lead the function second.
Example: Instead of launching into metrics, start your team meeting with, “What’s one thing we’ve overcome together this month?” Celebrate shared humanity, not just performance.
Transformation
Connected leaders don’t blur boundaries—they reinforce belonging.
Their teams feel seen, not scanned.
Their culture reflects loyalty, not just labor.
Connection isn’t soft. It’s strategic.
It’s what fuels healthy tension, honest dialogue, and aligned execution.
Practical Next Step
Create a “Relationship Dashboard.”
Identify 3 people you’ve unintentionally drifted from (could be peers, direct reports, or key partners).
Schedule a personal reconnection within the next 2 weeks.
No agenda. Just listen and show up.
Then ask: “How can I support you better?”
RedShift Reflection
At RedShift, we believe that connection is the glue of sustainable leadership. Without it, performance becomes pressure. With it, leadership becomes legacy.
Want to build more than just a team? Build trust.
Time to shift from command… to connection.
