“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Leadership is always a hot subject. We often hear people talking about what kind of leadership is best.
There’s no simple answer to that question. Different situations need different leadership. And in fact, even if we would all agree that authenticity is an effective way of leading, there’s not just one way of doing that either.
Great leaders are able to adjust their style based on the situation and the people involved. Great leaders consider the long-term effects of their actions, responses and behaviours.
Kindness as a leadership quality is often underrated. It’s sometimes seen as a weakness to be kind. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Kindness means you are able to understand the other person(s) and you treat them in a way that doesn’t hurt them. This is a strength. This is how you can have real impact.
One such example could be to give someone feedback (positive or constructive), as it would be unkindnot to share something that is holding someone back or could make them even more effective and successful. So don’t mistake kindness for weakness.
“I’m a big believer in acts of kindness, no matter how small.” – Liam Neeson
It’s always possible to be kind – while still being dynamic, driven, creative, empowering or any other quality that a leader may have.
What act of kindness could you perform today? And what impact will that have?
Please share your act of kindness or your thoughts on this subject below.
We will give away a free 1-hour coaching session to two randomly picked responders – will it be you?
About the authors
Mandy Flint & Elisabet Vinberg Hearn, award-winning authors of ‘The Team Formula’.
Their latest book, multi-award-winning “Leading Teams – 10 Challenges: 10 Solutions”, published by Financial Times International is a practical tool for building winning teams. You can download a free chapter of the book at www.leadingteamsbook.com
Praise for ‘Leading Teams’: “Enjoyable to read. Simple to understand. Practical to implement. A must read for team members or leaders” – Debbie Fogel-Monnissen, Executive Vice President, International Markets Finance Officer, Mastercard, NY, USA.
