Leaders Who Avoid Conflict Destroy Teams, Says William Lin on the NXT Podcast

Executive Director of Instituto i9c says companies fail not because they lack talent, but because leaders fail to develop people, address conflict, and invest time in their teams

Giancarlo Nicastro welcomes William Lin, Executive Director of Instituto i9c, on the latest episode of the NXT Podcast

By: SiiLA News

07/17/2026

The biggest mistake in modern leadership may not lie in strategy, technology, or a shortage of qualified professionals. According to William Lin, Executive Director of Instituto i9c, the problem begins when managers stop developing people and focus solely on demanding results.

In the latest episode of the NXT Podcast, hosted by Giancarlo Nicastro, Lin criticizes today's human development industry, the false promises sold by parts of the training market, and the superficial way many companies approach leadership, culture, and people management.

Throughout the conversation, William argues that leadership development starts with self-awareness. In his view, many professionals accumulate certifications without ever confronting their own limitations, a gap that ultimately shapes the way they lead their teams.

Another key topic is his criticism of the common practice of promoting top technical performers into leadership roles without preparing them to manage people.

To illustrate the point, he uses the analogy of "promoting a waiter to maître d'": the company loses an outstanding individual contributor and gains an unprepared manager, often creating frustration throughout the team.

The episode also explores the return to in-person work. Both William and Giancarlo argue that companies that believed they could build organizational culture exclusively through video calls ultimately faced lower productivity, higher burnout, and greater difficulty rebuilding relationships among employees.

For William, leadership requires something increasingly rare in today's organizations: the willingness to invest time in people.

Discussing team development, he emphasizes that feedback, active listening, and difficult conversations are essential responsibilities of every leader. Avoiding conflict may feel comfortable in the short term, but it comes at a significant long-term cost.

"Companies that develop people grow more consistently and naturally remain in the market longer. That's simply a fact."

During the episode, William also shares transformation stories from Instituto i9c, including that of a business heir who discovered the purpose needed to take over the family company, and comedian Fausto Carvalho, known as "Menzinho," who overcame his fear of public speaking after completing the institute's leadership development program.

By the end of the conversation, the central message is clear: leadership is not built through titles, certificates, or ready-made formulas.

Where to watch

The NXT Podcast is available on all major audio streaming platforms. To watch the full episode, visit:

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