• May. 10, 2024
  • Column, Life at Exponentiel
  • Written by: Véronique Arsenault

Kindness: A leader’s secret weapon

This year, for Mental Health Week, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is issuing a "call to kindness".

Not self-serving kindness, practised with the aim of achieving a result, but genuine kindness, the kind that comes from the heart.

In the workplace, where management skills are often measured by the number of letters after a name, showing kindness sometimes takes a back seat. Yet it would be a serious mistake to underestimate its power in leadership. In fact, kindness is a formidable secret weapon for leaders seeking to inspire, motivate and rally their teams to success.

Often undervalued as a management skill, kindness can be equated with weakness. On the contrary, a caring leader can be both firm and compassionate. By setting clear limits and maintaining high standards of performance, while being empathetic and understanding, a leader can guide his or her team towards excellence, while preserving their well-being and motivation.

What's more, one of the strengths of kindness is that it is highly contagious. The more leaders let their kindness flow, the more power they have to inspire and positively influence those around them - their teams, their customers and the wider community. By cultivating relationships based on kindness and mutual respect, a leader can establish a positive reputation for his or her company and foster fruitful long-term collaborations.

In conclusion, the transformative power of kindness is undeniable in leadership. Let's allow this human trait to work its magic in our daily lives, both professionally and personally. Let's put our trust in kindness to help maintain good mental health in our teams./p>