Thread by @natalienagele

Spent some time reflecting on everything that happened over at Basecamp, and realizing that it is important to really understand the role of leadership in a situation like this. Especially as we deliberated, and ultimately removed them from @peoplefirstjobs. A thread 👇

I wrote some words on people-first leadership. I'm intentionally not debating the policies themselves, as brilliant folks with direct impact have shared. My stance is squarely in the "it's bullshit" camp, but this isn't about the policies directly. wildbit.com/blog/2021/05/1…

Because this isn’t about the policies (although I think they’re 💩), it’s about what hangs above them: leadership that is definitely not people-first. Because to be a people-first leader, you must realize that the job is about people, not simply about "getting shit done".

Being honest about who you are is important. We may not agree with the policies and the way in which they rolled out, but now it's in the open. The path towards more ethical commerce relies on open information for customers and employees to vote with their time and 💰.

Not all founders are designed or interested in being people-first leaders. Leadership means creating an environment where others feel safe to do fulfilling work. When you choose to build a team, your role changes. It's no longer your job to get shit done. The people are your job.

If that's not your jam, be honest with yourself about it. For powerful, privileged founders, there are many options. Step aside, sell, etc. But when you hire folks, it is your responsibility to think about your actions and how they impact them. It's no longer just about you.

Chris and I have run a small business for 20 years. I know what it feels like to be exhausted. To feel like we're not making progress. To feel frustrated because it seems like all we do is deal with "people issues" and aren't getting “work” done.

But at no point are we giving ourselves permission to abdicate our leadership responsibilities. When it feels exhausting and stagnant, it's on us to fix. It's always about pausing and remembering that you can't get anything done unless your team feels safe and fulfilled.

There are many ways to run a business; you don't have to be people first. We believe that businesses support 4 human constituents: shareholders/founders, employees, customers, community. You can't always balance them all, but people-first means you try. wildbit.com/people-first/b…

So before you come at me saying "this isn't the way business works" or "this isn't capitalism", I'll remind you that I have run an extremely profitable business serving hundreds of thousands of customers for over 20 years. So yes, this can absolutely be the way.

Huge shoutout to wonderful members of the @peoplefirstjobs community who read, provided feedback and contributed to this post: @alleyco @outseta @seerinteractive @knackhq.