The Cost Of Being Brave In The Workplace
Marie Genevieve Pawlak is the founder of Prime Alchemy, a leading expert in game-based learning and organizational health, which provides people with the tools they need to find value and purpose in their work. The Prime Alchemy team works to develop programs that really engage people.
We’ve all been there. Sitting in a boardroom, facing a leader who seems laser-focused on profit margins, quarterly growth, and the almighty dollar, with little regard for the people driving that success. You watch, waiting for someone to say what’s on everyone’s mind: "What about the human cost?" But the answer I wish I were brave enough to give, the one that sits on the tip of my tongue, often remains unsaid.
In those moments, I find myself wondering: What destructive behaviors are we calling “normal”? What uncomfortable truths are we avoiding? There’s a reason those in leadership feel justified. They’ve reached a certain level of success—clients aren’t leaving, the company is growing, and from the outside, it all looks fine. But the truth is much darker. Those people—the employees, the human beings—are dying inside. They go home and watch their relationships crumble, their mental health erode, and a piece of them quietly fade away each day.
I wish I could say I was always brave enough to stand up and challenge that. I wish I could tell you that I never turned a blind eye to the toxicity. But like many others, I had a family to support, bills to pay, and a lifestyle I wanted to maintain. So, I stayed quiet. And in that silence, a small part of myself withered.
We’re quick to point to figures like Elon Musk as examples of leaders who seemingly thrive on toxicity. Musk is often portrayed as a visionary innovator who doesn’t need to care about "leadership junk" because his businesses are booming. But are they? Let’s look at X (formerly Twitter). Under his leadership, X has faced a 30% loss in users since 2023, fallen behind competitors like Threads, and lost significant advertising revenue. Estimates suggest the company is worth 71% less than when Musk purchased it. Sure, the platform still sees 250 million daily visits, but beneath the surface, it’s struggling. Financially. Culturally. Morally.
Toxic leadership may appear successful on the surface. Still, when you dig in, it’s clear many companies that tolerate or promote such behaviors are on a rollercoaster of acquisition and loss. They might gain new business, but their customer experience is a nightmare, and they can’t keep clients long-term. They operate as if they’re the only game in town, providing quick, short-term solutions without considering the long-term damage they inflict on both employees and clients.
It’s easy to chalk up these problems to a high-risk, high-reward business model. But the human cost is immeasurable. Money isn’t evil. It’s necessary for our livelihoods, and it’s what builds our futures. But when numbers on paper matter more than people, we all pay the price.
Being brave in the workplace isn’t easy. It comes with risks, and staying silent is often much more comfortable. But every time we choose to prioritize the bottom line over humanity, a part of us—the part that values integrity, compassion, and empathy—dies. The cost of bravery isn’t measured in lost profits or missed promotions. It’s measured in the quiet erosion of our humanity.
So, here’s something to ponder: What inconvenient truths are we choosing to ignore at the highest levels of leadership? How does our reluctance to speak up fuel the very toxicity we claim to oppose?
We spend millions on development programs to help employees be more engaged, innovative, and courageous—but how can we expect the people in the cube to be brave and stand for values when we don’t hold the faces of our companies to the same standards? If we don’t demand psychological safety at the highest levels, what hope do we offer those further down the chain? Actual change starts at the top, and it’s time we ask ourselves if we’re brave enough to lead it.
Be Brave
Be Kind
Respect Boundaries
Adapt to Constant Change
Voice Your Concerns.
Encourage Open Communication
Marie Genevieve Pawlak, Managing Principal Prime Alchemist
Marie Genevieve Pawlak is the founder of Prime Alchemy, a leading expert in game-based learning and organizational health, which provides people with the tools they need to find value and purpose in their work. The Prime Alchemy team works to develop programs that really engage people. Through play. Game-based programs use your own tasks and projects, so you never get behind schedule. Marie believes in organizational health as a way to build a better workplace. Healthy organizations outperform their competitors, are free of politics, have higher transparency, and encourage star performers to stay. Prime Alchemy is a division of Planning101 Group Corp.
