Why Christina Zammit La Rosa believes leadership is as much about tough calls as it is about trust

For many leaders, identifying and nurturing talent is one of the most rewarding aspects of their role. But what happens when belief in someone begins to hold the business back?

Christina Zammit La Rosa – Founder of Zed Consultancy and Director at Zammit La Rosa Footwear Ltd – recently took to LinkedIn to share a deeply personal reflection on what she describes as her greatest weakness in business: Letting people go.

“I believe in people. I assume they can turn things around, and I always look for their potential,” she wrote. While this mindset has served her well in many respects, she admitted that it can also be a major drawback. “Sometimes, the hardest decision is knowing when to let go.”

Leading a small team, Ms Zammit La Rosa stressed that the people within it form the very core of the business. “As a small but mighty team, our people are the backbone of our business,” she explained. Unlike in larger organisations where high staff turnover is often seen as inevitable, her companies place a high value on long-term retention. In fact, she revealed that their employee retention is “exceptionally high” – something that she believes offers them a serious competitive advantage.

“When people stay, knowledge deepens, service improves, and a culture of trust and reliability forms,” she shared.

Yet that same loyalty and optimism can lead to difficult dilemmas. Holding onto an employee who is no longer the right fit – whether out of hope, hesitation or habit – can pose a real risk to team cohesion and business performance. “Keeping the wrong fit – out of hope or hesitation – can weaken the whole structure,” she cautioned.

This tension between empathy and efficacy is one that many business leaders will recognise. For Ms Zammit La Rosa, it reflects the evolving nature of leadership itself. “Leadership isn’t just about believing in people; it’s about knowing when to make the hard decisions for the good of the team.”

Despite years of experience, she acknowledged that she’s still on a journey of growth. “I’m still learning. Still improving,” she wrote. But if there’s one principle that has remained constant throughout, it’s this: “Our team is our greatest strength, and fostering the right people is what keeps us moving forward.”

Her post, which resonated widely on LinkedIn, concluded with a simple but thought-provoking question: “What are your greatest weaknesses that have also taught you some valuable lessons?”

For business leaders across Malta, it’s a timely reminder that true strength lies not just in building teams – but in having the courage to reshape them when needed.