The Leader of the Land and the Leader of the Tower: Two Worlds, One Lesson!

From the Field to the Boardroom: What I Learned About Leadership Where I Least Expected

I have been in many meeting rooms with air conditioning, hot coffee, and open spreadsheets. I have discussed goals, talked about KPIs, dealt with egos, and watched urban leaders being overwhelmed by the unspoken expectations of their own teams.

But it was in the field, among farmers and agronomists, that leadership truly changed meaning for me.

In that setting without blazers, name badges, or rehearsed speeches, I saw a type of leadership that few books teach. I saw team leaders who barely used formal words but who, with a look and a gesture, moved an entire team with respect, honor, and purpose.

Leadership from the Field: Assertive Emotional Intelligence as a Competitive Advantage

The leaders I observed there didn’t read coaching manuals, but they knew exactly when someone on the team needed a break, some encouragement, or a sign of confidence. They led with direct language not through “time management,” but through managing human energy.

They used short words, long looks, and coherent decisions. And they had something many urban leaders have lost: reciprocity.

They received genuine commitment from their collaborators not because of bonuses or performance goals, but because leadership there was lived on the same ground, under the same sun.

The leaders I observed coming from the field not only lead with simplicity but also exercise assertive emotional intelligence. They identify problems quickly and find solutions amid chaos and panic essential characteristics for any manager in high-pressure environments.

These leaders act as true process facilitators, employing direct and frank communication that eliminates noise and speeds up decision-making. Their language is clear, objective, and at the same time capable of engaging and aligning diverse teams.

In the business world, this translates into:

• High capacity for conflict resolution;

• Effective crisis management;

• Clear and unambiguous communication;

• Situational leadership that adapts the message according to the context and the team’s profile.

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This combination makes the leader from the field a living example of how assertive emotional intelligence can be a strategic differentiator, generating agility and consistent results even in adverse scenarios.

And when this leader from the land rises to the tower?

Something curious happens. When this simple and straightforward leader is promoted and brought into the corporate tower, he doesn’t get lost. On the contrary: he quickly adapts. Because his ability to genuinely deal with people remains his greatest asset.

He presents his ideas with clarity and truth. He doesn’t compete for space: he earns space. He doesn’t try to appear important: he is naturally respected. And when he sees inflated egos around him, he recognizes them from afar and knows how to navigate wisely.

He doesn’t take the promotion to his ego because he never led to be recognized but to serve.

Now the Leader from the Tower…

This one is often tested when asked to step off script.

He feels uncomfortable when the meeting is scheduled in the middle of a banana plantation, a vineyard, or a shipping warehouse. His suit feels heavier. His ego silently screams: “This is not my place.”

Even if sitting across the table is the owner of a gold mine or one of the country’s top banana exporters, the discomfort doesn't come from the environment, it comes from a lack of human connection.

The first obstacle for the leader from the tower is his own ego. He may be technically prepared even choked by knowledge, but the real internal battle is often about what others will think.

Ego, more often than not, gets in the way of decisions that should be obvious and fair to everyone. It hinders true connection and prevents assertive decision-making that benefits both the team and the business as a whole.

Many tower leaders hold vast technical knowledge, but in some cases, that knowledge comes more from books and tools than from people. And it’s that human disconnection that often weakens their effectiveness.

Because leading with titles alone doesn’t work when the people speak the language of the land.

It was in this contrast that I changed how I lead and how I teach leadership.

I came to understand that leadership is not about persuasion. It’s about consistency. It doesn’t matter whether you're wearing muddy boots or polished shoes what sets a leader apart is the ability to inspire trust without needing to impose authority.

Even more: I realized that the emotional well-being of a team depends far less on corporate perks and far more on how a leader communicates, observes, supports, and responds.

Emotional intelligence is not in the books. It’s in the language you choose to use with your team.

Today, when I’m called to train leaders, I always bring this contrast.

Not to romanticize rural life or criticize city life, but to remind people that real leadership doesn’t need a stage. It needs presence.

And that’s why, at BAB Consultoria, we help companies develop leaders who understand people not just management. Because an emotionally healthy team doesn’t come from a sophisticated career plan, but from an environment where the leader is accessible, clear, and genuine.

Whether in the field or the city, transformative leadership begins with those who have the courage to step onto any terrain unafraid to get their shoes dirty.

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At BAB Consultoria, we believe that sustainable performance is born from balance.We’ve been helping companies develop emotionally intelligent leadership and redesign their management routines with a focus on well-being and real delivery.Protecting the team is not an act of kindness, it’s a strategic decision.

Thank you for reading this article to the end.I hope it has brought valuable insights to your leadership and to the emotional health of your teams.

See you soon! It will be a privilege to contribute to your organization, helping generate greater impact, better results, and, consequently, more jobs.Fernanda Bu-Harb