Kill Em’ With Kindness
Get Better Business Results by Adjusting Your Attitude
Some people think kindness is a sign of weakness, but I don’t. Never in my career have I been thanked for being cruel or unkind. I have, however, been thanked numerous times for being kind and positive. Can you think of a time you ever appreciated a boss being an asshole? I can’t, and I’ve had a few bosses that would fall into that category. While I guess I could thank them for showing me how I don’t want to act as a leader, I’d rather be grateful for the people that showed me that kindness is the way.
What I’m trying to say is: choosing to be empathetic, kind, and caring toward the people you lead is the way to go – every time. Even when it’s difficult, if we stop to take a breath, we can approach any situation with a little more understanding and a lot less harshness. Make that your practice. Will there be times you have to be firm? Sure. But if being tough is your modus operandi, you won’t get much from your team.
Now, I’m not saying you should be a pushover. You still have a job to do. You can set expectations, encourage your employees to be better, and have difficult conversations with a kind heart. Not just for the bottom line, but from a genuine desire to see your employees succeed.
Show real empathy, care about your team, and remember that they’re human. Also, remember that they aren’t you. When you’re under a deadline or someone does something differently than you’d imagined, this can be one of the hardest things to do. Their challenges are different from yours – and those challenges are valid.
I’ve never been a perfect boss, but when I’ve chosen to be kind, I’ve always gotten better results. Not only will your work benefit from your kindness, you’ll also sleep better. Start choosing kindness and level up your leadership, today.
Are you an up-and-coming leader that wants to start things off right? Join my Essential Leadership Skills Workshop starting January 13th, 2022. Are you already a leader and want to work on leveling up with a group of like-minded folks? Join my Leadership Mastermind program!
