Sometimes we confuse strength with:

• Loudness
• Brusqueness
• An inability to listen
• A resistance to seeing the world as it is
• An unwillingness to compromise small things to accomplish big ones
• Fast talking
• Bullying
• External unflappability
• Callousness
• Lying
• Policies instead of judgment
• …and being a jerk.

Well, once you put it that way, it's pretty clear that none of these things are actually signs of strength.

In fact, they are symptoms of brittleness, of insecurity and of a willful disconnect from the things that matter.

Individuals, organizations, brands and leaders all have a chance to be strong. And can just easily choose to be jerks.

Because it is a choice, isn't it?

I think it's up to us not to get them confused, and to accidentally trust the wrong behaviors or the wrong people.

Strength begins with unwavering resilience, not brittle aggression.