Leaders have always had to balance compassion and accountability — and in recent years, we’ve seen the pendulum swing wildly in both directions. During the early years of the pandemic, many organizations made their people a priority, offering flexibility, mental health benefits, and other support to help employees navigate a stressful time. Recently, as interest rates and inflation have risen, we’ve seen leaders change their tune, dialing back on some benefits, bringing people back to the office, and placing more emphasis on results: meeting deadlines, hitting targets, and growing revenues.