Lead with Kindness
How do you attain a level of authentic leadership that allows you to motivate people and achieve results?
In East Tenth Group’s leadership development programs, one of the key factors we focus on with our clients is leading with kindness. That may seem counterintuitive…we’ve all lived with the idea that “nice guys finish last” and “the early bird gets the worm,” so it’s easy to forget that people are the most important asset in any business.
The brain somehow seems incapable of focusing on both results and people, but one thing I know from experience is that when you focus on people, results happen. People come first. They are the greatest asset in any business – they do the work of the business. How leaders treat each person – how they interact with them – makes a difference in how much loyalty, energy, and enthusiasm is engendered.
It’s a rare leader who inspires and cares. But leaders who focus on people get results. You can start by:
- Listening. Simply listen to your team members and truly consider their ideas, demonstrating that you value them and that they provide value to the organization.
- Recognizing and appreciating individuality. Treat each person as a separate and unique individual with needs, wants, and a life outside of the organization. The more you can accommodate those occasions that place demands on employees when they are outside of the office, the more dedicated the person will be in the office.
- Mentoring. Good leaders become great leaders when they become more interested in the success of the people they lead than in their own glory.
How do you lead with kindness?
As the CEO & Founder of East Tenth Group, Michelle leverages 25 years of business and experience as a strategic advisor and executive coach to help drive actionable people solutions and provide practical insights on business strategy to senior leaders. she and her team and are fiercely committed to the development and growth of people and companies because we believe that when people thrive, business thrives.
