Course 2: Becoming a 7 Cups Leader - (Discussion #1) Welcome to Course 2!
Please note: In order to successfully complete Course 2, you must respond to this post. Your comment/response should answer the questions/shows that you completed the given activity (if any). Read the post carefully and follow the instructions given. Save your responses to a document that you can later refer to. You will need to copy/paste your response in the course evaluation form at the end of each course to show that you have done the work and to refresh your memory.
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Congrats! You made it the second course in the LDP! In this course, we focus on the specific interpersonal skills needed to be a strong leader on 7 Cups, including mastery of communication skills, time management, conflict resolution, stress management and empowering new leaders.
I know if you are here, you have read our values and culture guide. I would like to start off by further emphasizing one value that's required for a leader to be successful here, and that is balancing High Expectations & High Warmth.
Work environments with high expectations and minimal warmth tend to result in companies that are very driven, rule-oriented and risk-averse. The people do not tend to grow as much personally or professionally. On the other hand, workplaces that are high in warmth, but have minimal expectations, tend to struggle. Everyone is happy and feels loved, but not a lot of effective or focused work gets done.
7 Cups is high expectations AND high warmth. We expect a lot from you. You might feel like we think you are more capable than other people have suggested or maybe even more capable than how you see yourself. That is okay. Every person on the team has outperformed and done better than they expected. This is largely because warmth, patience, and trust help people make much more progress than they have in other environments. We have high expectations, but we will provide plenty of encouragement and guidance to help you get there.
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Question: What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of expectations and warmth? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?
Activity: Please reply to 3 of your peers in this thread with encouraging or supportive words!
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As a 7cup leader
An imbalance of expectations will result in
1.Not being seen as reliable from fellow leaders
2.Not being interested in any community discussion or work
3.I won’t be able to understand or relate well with other listeners
@eternalCloud4864
I wholeheartedly agree with the points you make, especially reliability ¬ being able to relate to other listeners. Great points!
@Heather225
I do not have a team yet, but if i was not feeling up to working that day. I would ensure that they know and someone would assist me that day
@starryCandy6123
Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
@Heather225
Question: What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of expectations and warmth? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?
I think imbalance of expectations and warmth, for a 7 Cups leader, can lead to not being an effective leader. Having too low of expectations or too little warmth could impact the community by believing leaders don't really care of issues brought forth in the community (1). As well, having low expectations & too little warmth can impede work with fellow leaders in that, impacts working collaboratively with fellow leaders (2).
@Heather225
Question: What do you think happens if you, a 7 Cups leader, have an imbalance of expectations and warmth? How do you think having too low of expectations, or too little warmth, will impact 1.) the community, and 2.) impact how you work with your fellow leaders?
1.) Little warmth can lead to members feeling like Listeners don't actually care and may lead to some feeling like we talk very robotically. This would make us less approachable, and
2.) Low expectations can lead to Listeners to become complacent, and not continue to improve their skills. No warmth would also impede communications, likely leading to more communication issues.
@Heather225
Low expectations or little warmth- will impact
Impact on community: lawless, volatile, ungrounded, unstable, unstructured, unreliable, inconsistent, stagnant- these traits given to the community can cause members and others to feel neglected or unheard. Each member needs a voice and guidelines to maintain safety.
Impact on fellow leaders: inefficient, not working together, lazy or uncaring, careless, complacent, negligent
2) Impact of low warmth
General qualities: too strict, harsh feedback or harsh rule reminding, unforgiving, impatient when members take long to respond or to get your point, too stern- We need t remain respectful and if we are harsh or "too bossy or unforgiving" how can we help others or even forgive ourselves? Members and co leaders might take us as a know it all or too stern with rules and we need to be flexible at times.
Impact on fellow leaders: burnt out, exhausted, stressed, unappreciated or feel like they do too much and not given the respect back- Self care is number one when it comes to 7cups and if we feel stress, exhausted, or if a member feels this way, we need to navigate ourselves and them to self care and take that time needed to find ourselves and build back who we are
@Heather225 hi thank you so much for this course
@Heather225
If a 7 Cups leader has an imbalance between expectations and warmth, it can affect both the community and your collaboration with fellow leaders in distinct ways:
1. Impact on the community:
Too low expectations: If you expect very little from members, the community may lack structure or accountability. Members might not feel challenged or encouraged to grow, leading to stagnation or disengagement. People may perceive the space as unstructured or “soft,” which can reduce the overall sense of safety and purpose.
Too little warmth: If you are distant or overly critical without empathy, members may feel judged or unsupported. This can create anxiety, mistrust, or even drive members away. Without warmth, the emotional safety that a supportive community requires is compromised, which can reduce participation and openness.
2. Impact on working with fellow leaders:
Too low expectations: Other leaders may feel frustrated or that standards are being compromised. It can lead to misalignment in team goals, uneven workload, or conflicts over accountability. Leaders may have to pick up the slack for unclear expectations.
Too little warmth: Without empathy and approachability, collaboration suffers. Fellow leaders may hesitate to communicate openly, share ideas, or ask for help. This can create a tense, transactional atmosphere rather than a cooperative, supportive leadership team.
Balanced approach: Effective leadership on 7 Cups requires a balance—setting clear, reasonable expectations while maintaining warmth, empathy, and encouragement. This creates a community that is safe, engaging, and growth-oriented, and fosters strong, respectful relationships among leaders.
