People talk a lot about leaders who are decisive or clear or brilliant, but kindness is rarely extolled as the virtue of a true leader. I think that’s for a few reasons. One is that management can still be very male in many cultures, and talking about kindness can seem odd, especially for a male leader. I am not saying men don’t display kindness as readily, just that they might not talk about it as easily. I also think that the higher up you rise in a company, the more efficient you have to be with your time, and that can result in abrupt and rushed conversations. Some of us are just not blessed with people skills, and when forced into engaging, well, it can be plain weird.
Here are some tips on kindness that anyone can follow and employees will appreciate:
• Be on time for and pay attention in meetings.
• Look people in the eye when they are talking to you.
• Give recognition freely. It lets people know you care.
• Lead by example, and those who you have regular interactions with you will take your cue on how to treat others.
• Ask genuine questions.
• Being frank and honest is always the best way.
A little positive energy can go a long way towards inspiring those around you to be onboard with your goals and vision.
I really appreciate the words on the importance of kindness. It’s a delicate balance to hold people accountable to performance yet demonstrate that you genuinely care. The examples you give are excellent — paying attention and asking questions is a powerful combination. It’s what we all want but can be forgotten during the hustle of an over-packed day.