Human First, Leader Second Quotes

“A self-compassionate leadership practice can put the focus back on a company’s most precious asset: its people.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-compassion is the antidote to toxic positivity.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Polarity management helps us understand that some challenges are not problems to be solved but rather tensions or paradoxes to be managed.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“We wake up most days trying to be someone we already are.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-compassionate leadership isn't a way to avoid pain—instead, it strengthens us to face the inevitable storms rather than cowering in fear.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-kindness is not a luxury, but a necessity.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-compassion allows us to reexamine our bias toward critical voices and more objectively contrast them against a gentler framing: "You're not good enough" versus "You're human.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“As we let go of perfection, we are more open to accepting a nonlinear path to our goals.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-compassion is not a cop-out when life gets hard. It’s a way to navigate the human struggle gracefully and acknowledge who we are so we can be our best.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism

“Self-compassion doesn’t let us off the hook but it will provide a nonjudgmental approach to discovering the root of the behavior.”
― Massimo Backus, Human First, Leader Second: How Self-Compassion Outperforms Self-Criticism