Leaders: Be Kind

Todd Nordstrom:

Here are three ways I’ve found that simple kindness could bring you more success as a leader at work.

1. Appreciation inspires greater results.

Being kind means you sincerely celebrate the successes of others at work. You actually care. Global research from my own firm, O.C. Tanner Institute, reveals that when employees were asked what the one thing their boss or company could give them that would inspire them to strive for great results, recognition was, hands down, the number one answer. It was bigger than pay increases, promotions, training, and autonomy. Celebrating the achievements of others is being kind. It turns out, it also inspires great results.

2. Connection leads to better ideas.

It would make sense that kind people would have an easier time networking and making more sincere connections–because they care about the people they meet. But, there’s more to it than that. Our research also found that 72 percent of award-winning projects involve people talking to, and asking questions from, other people who may not be in their inner circle. They care to discover the opinions of people who may not know anything about their current project, and appreciate the opinions of people who may disagree or dislike their ideas. That’s kindness–gaining the perception of someone else, whether they agree with you or not.

3. Correction can improve relationships.

As leaders, sometimes it’s our responsibility to let others know when they’re not meeting expectations. And, corrective conversations are rarely considered to be acts of kindness. But, leaders who express kindness, and a sincere desire to help an employee become their best, build stronger relationships with their people. In fact, a 10-year study by Harvard Business Review reveals that the number one reason holding back second-rate executives is their inability to create trusting relationships.

We live in a world with a lot of disagreement. We all have our own opinions, ideas, and perceptions. Within .45 seconds a Google search of Leadership returned 2,090,000,000 results. Obviously, there’s a seemingly endless amount of information we all could learn about becoming better leaders. However, the moment we forget that our first responsibility as a leader is to actually care about the success of others, is the moment we fail. This starts with simple kindness–in life and at work.

Ralph Waldo Emerson may have said it best. “You can not do a kindness to soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.”