Effective leaders understand the importance of showing kindness to their employees. In 2021, as the pandemic reshaped the priorities of the workforce, this principle holds more weight than ever. We are currently experiencing what economists have termed the Great Resignation, with over 40% of employees expressing a desire to change jobs. There are various reasons for this, but many cite employers’ reluctance to adopt hybrid working models as a significant issue.
Looking ahead, organizations that approach talent acquisition with thoughtfulness and creativity will stand out. Therefore, businesses of all sizes, whether comprising 10 or 10,000 employees, should embrace the concept of radical kindness.
Are you prepared to incorporate kindness into your organization? This article offers three recommendations for maintaining employee satisfaction and wellness.
1. Prioritize your employees over profits.
A compassionate leader acknowledges the humanity of each team member. They recognize that work is not the sole aspect of life, and their employees nurture enriching lives outside of working hours. Team members invest time in their families, socialize with friends, and engage in hobbies in their leisure hours.
To cultivate a positive office environment, it’s essential to embrace employees as whole individuals rather than solely for their professional contributions. This requires a significant shift in perspective, but it’s invaluable if you aspire to lead with compassion and prioritize people.
Wall Street’s influence has predominantly focused on profit margins. When we re-evaluated our approach, we asked ourselves, Why not prioritize people over profits? Why not implement this philosophy? There’s no necessity for us to function as a publicly traded company or to rely on private equity; we can operate independently. Why not lead from the heart?”
Adhere to a servant leadership philosophy, where the emphasis is on working for people rather than merely with them. Employees recognize the distinction.
2. Support your employees’ development, even if it demands considerable sacrifice.
What does kindness entail in a business context? The view is often narrower than reality suggests. Providing snacks in the break room or hosting happy hours is laudable, but it merely scratches the surface of true generosity in business. Genuine kindness often involves prioritizing an employee’s needs over one’s own, which is especially rare when leadership has other obligations.
In recent trends, when someone departs, commissions are often retracted, and the client listings revert to the company. However, when you leave our team, all commissions and loans are still rightfully yours. Your client relationships remain yours.
This exemplifies the pinnacle of kindness. When employees exit in a better situation than when they joined, you’ve succeeded in your role.
Implementing improved business practices can start on a small scale. Here are a few ways to demonstrate care for employees:
- Maintain a lighthearted atmosphere, which encourages employees to do the same.
- Make fun a priority in the workplace, even when business necessities demand focus.
- Nurture long-term relationships with their team members to sustain a talent pool.
3. Practice humility.
Owning a business offers appealing advantages, such as the ability to make key decisions on fair compensation or permitting remote work. This freedom is unmatched, but it’s crucial to remember that being a CEO necessitates finding balance. Employees seek a strong leader who is both empathetic and respectful.
One of the core principles of success is your lack of ego regarding the individuals you associate with. Aspire to surround yourself with the smartest individuals who possess greater knowledge than you do.
Your organization flourishes by recruiting talented individuals, celebrating their achievements, and motivating them to continue thriving. While it may seem like an overused adage, it holds true. An employee mentioned earning substantial income from origination fees—additional charges connected to mortgage lending. Instead of celebrating their achievement, the CEO made an impulsive and egocentric choice.
They received a message from HR stating, “You are no longer part of this organization; no salesperson is allowed to earn more than the CEO.”
This was a significant loss. The company not only lost a top salesperson but also sacrificed thousands of dollars in potential revenue.
Adopt a different model. Embrace the notion that employees earning more than you does not faze anyone. They are genuinely pleased when someone surpasses their past achievements. This approach embodies a vital lesson in kindness that every entrepreneur should consider.
