Strong leadership and kindness are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they fit together effectively. The most successful leaders treat their team members with kindness. They realize that kindness is motivating. As Bob Kerrey has said, “Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.”
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Motivated team members actuate a winning organizational culture, which leads to people having pride in their work, their team, and their company, which leads to outstanding results and superior client service.
When talking with people about kindness, they often note that what we say and do must be genuine, which is definitely true. When I say kindness, it’s said not as a platitude. It’s how we inspire a can-do attitude, and how we help others gain confidence, which also describes what strong leaders do.
In my work with leadership assessments and developing organizations’ cultures and teamwork, employees repeatedly express their desire for managers to be honest and to make the effort to help them develop their skills. Managers realize this often means being forthright and leveling with employees about the opportunities for professional development. Yet, managers are often too busy to follow through in this responsibility and provide constructive feedback.
“We rise by lifting others,” said Robert Ingersoll, and it’s important to realize that giving constructive feedback, mentoring, and coaching team members and others are also acts of kindness. Everyone wants to do well and be successful. To learn, grow, and succeed is the leader’s responsibility just as much as it is the team member’s responsibility.
Leaders can give constructive feedback in a kind manner and let employees know they genuinely care about them.
Ideally these conversations are held in person, but if that isn’t possible, pick up the phone and call your employees.
I recently had a conversation with Emily Clark, a regional marketing manager at Billy Casper Golf. She is a strong, natural leader who is all about the team. Emily made an important point: “It is important for us as leaders to take the time to reach out to our people when good things happen, not just when something goes wrong.”
First published Mar. 22, 2015, on the Common Sense Leadership blog.
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