Kindness

I know a lot of successful managers.  I’ve coached them, facilitated their meetings, and trained them in classrooms all over the world.  While many things distinguish them one from the other, there’s one thing that has always impressed me:  their kindness.

This kindness manifests in simple ways.  They take the time to say thank you when they’ve enjoyed something or learned something new.  When you email them with a question, they reply right away.  They share ideas and resources.  And while they are kind, they are rarely pushovers.

I want to write about them because not only are they wonderful clients, they are also terrific managers.  I hear this all the time from their direct reports.  It usually sounds something like “He’s not perfect, but he’s responsive and considerate. And that goes a long way with me.”  I agree, and I want to honor their kindness and say thank you — on behalf of myself and their direct reports everywhere!