Great Leaders Practice Kindness

When I discovered that Sunday, November 13th is World Kindness Day, it got me thinking about the importance of kindness in leadership.  Some of the best leaders I know not only practice kindness, but it is core to their character.  I’ve witnessed acts of kindness like insisting everyone leave the office early to safely avoid a snowstorm (back when we were all in the office), or the time one leader gave an employee extended time off to recover from a significant illness, or the time I witnessed a leader write several handwritten notes to thank employees for their contributions. 

The wonderful thing about kindness is that whether it is big or small, it makes a big impact on people. Kindness can be as simple as …

• Giving someone grace, especially when they are having a rough day.

• Letting someone know they are valuable to the team.

• Providing support to someone who needs some extra help.

• Putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and showing empathy.

Leaders who show kindness will build a better culture, gain trust, and likely increase engagement. But more importantly than that, leaders who show kindness are simply doing the right thing.