“Becoming a kind leader is an enriching journey—one of personal and professional development that claims old stereotypes and redefines strength with compassion.”
— Peter M. Beaumont
Imagine the quintessential leader: one with unmovable determination, someone who can control the room by emitting an all-powerful, firm type of presence. Now hold that thought. What they did not expect to picture is a leader whose most powerful tool is not fear but kindness. Surprised?
You’re not the only one. For kindness, in the cut-throat world of business with the cut-throat competition, kindness emerges as the unsung hero of true leadership excellence.
In a world that often equates leadership with the iron hand, it is the image of a tough, stoic leader that has more often than not been glorified. For years we have been preconditioned to believe that for one to command respect, they have to be feared like a deadline. But the picture is just as old-fashioned as a dial-up in a broadband world. It is very, very high time that the showbiz be broken through and realize that leadership basically does not scare but inspires people with confidence and respect through kindness.
Beyond the ability to make nice remarks, the power of kindness in leadership goes a long way. It is about creating an environment where the employees feel that what is being valued and understood is real.
From such a background, creativity and productivity are bound to be enhanced, with team members standing fully empowered to make efforts toward taking initiatives and being innovative.
Imagine the kind of leader who doesn’t, however, call for overtime but ensures that his or her team is appreciated and rewarded with real, well-deserved opportunities for rest. This can do more for not only increasing morale but also establishing a level of loyalty and dedication that no amount of fear-based motivation ever will. Kindness, therefore, becomes not just a virtue, but a strategic advantage.
A kind leader sets in motion a ripple effect that can transform the very fabric of an organization. This wave of positivity will enhance the team dynamics, strengths of interpersonal relations, and overall culture that respects mutual respect.
Such a culture doesn’t just attract the best talent but retains them in such a way that the employees would prefer to leave an organization that does not treat them kindly and with respect. This positive internal environment will stretch to customer interactions, and in so doing building the brand reputation and loyalty among clients.
Kindness in leadership goes a long way with the little things done daily: celebrating team successes, recognizing individual contributors, and offering constructive criticism covered in empathy.
This may involve active listening from team members, understanding their problems, and providing support in the best way one can. If this is the practice, then leaders establish an environment of work based on norms of kindness rather than an exception.
Becoming a kind leader is an enriching journey—one of personal and professional development that claims old stereotypes and redefines strength with compassion. May we continue to untangle and walk through the complexities of leading, always knowing that the best leaders are leaders with kindness, for true power lies in being able to uplift and inspire those around.
So dare to be kind; your employees and your bottom line will thank you.
This article was inspired by Howie Milstein who used the word KIND as his only word to describe the most important quality of a Leader.
Peter M. Beaumont is a Leadership & Organisation Accelerator as well as a Leadership Partner with Success Authorities.
Contact Success Authorities for more information on Leadership, Culture, and Change.