GNT #004: Turn Kindness Into Your Competitive Edge

Read time: 4 minutes

Kind people don't have what it takes to succeed in business. Isn't that what we've been taught? That kindness is weakness in the world of cutthroat competition.

We can probably all agree that it is good to think of others when we consider a life well lived, but does kindness lead to a successful career or business venture?

Science and the most successful leaders argue kindness can completely transform your work and results.

Many people miss out on this edge because they believe the lie.

LIE: You can only be successful or kind. Not both.

People believe this lie because:

• Media loves drama
• There are unkind people who are successful 
• We are trained to look at success in the short term
• We haven't yet understood we can be more than one thing at a time

According to Gary Vaynerchuk in his book Twelve and a Half:

 
The good news is that we can overcome these old beliefs and turn kindness into our competitive edge. Science and today's greatest leaders and entrepreneurs say so.
 

Fact: Kindness and Empathy are the biggest drivers of performance

In a study by DDI called High Resolution Leadership, researchers assessed which of eight standard interaction skills have the biggest impact on overall performance. Empathy tops the list with Involvement following close behind.

According to the Global Empathy Index, the top 10 companies (which includes Microsoft, Facebook, Tesla Motors, and Google) generated 50% more earnings than those ranking least.

Kindness motivates employees. According to the Zenger Folkman Study that tracked 51,836 leaders, the most likable leaders who expressed kindness were also the most effective. “If you're seen as low-warmth, you have something like a 1-in-2,000 chance to make the top quartile of effectiveness as a leader," said Loran Nordgren, an associate professor of management and organizations at the Kellogg School.

Kindness impacts employee productivity. According to a study by Warwick University, happier employees are 12% more productive. Researchers note, “happier workers use the time they have more effectively, increasing the pace at which they can work without sacrificing quality.”

Kindness improves creativity. According to Jane Dutton and research at the University of Michigan, respectful engagement enhances creativity. Respective engagement = “conveying presence, communicating affirmation, effective listening and supportive communication.” These actions resulted in a more positive social network, a higher sense of worth, and better relational information processing which increased creativity.

Kindness creates loyalty. Generosity leads to more generosity according to this massive data-backed whitepaper "Science of Generosity" from the Greater Good Science Center.

The greatest leaders and entrepreneurs say kindness is key to success

Whole Foods Market founder and CEO John Mackey says, "Being kind and caring is how we build trust." And trust builds better teams and long-term relationships with customers.

As Zig Ziglar said, “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want.” Lifting up your employees at work can help your company achieve success in attracting and retaining employees.

Near the end of his life, Vince Lombardi who coined “winning is the only thing” said “I wished I’d never said the thing… I meant the effort. I meant having a goal. I sure didn’t mean for people to crush human values and morality.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt who helped pull the US out of the great depression and laid the groundwork for modern America believed, "Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people."

Even Jeff Bezos told Princeton graduates, "Kindness is just as important as intelligence in order to be successful."

The Tactics: How can we show kindness to leverage this edge?

If you need a fresh idea to show kindness in new ways with your business, colleagues, or network, here's a few to get started:

• Give eye contact.
• Set clear boundaries.
• Be a positive gossiper.
• Be kind when it's hard.
• Send a thank you note.
• Focus on collaboration.
• Encourage growth in others.
• Display integrity consistently.
• Balance kindness with candor.
• Share your vision for the future.
• Be transparent in decision-making.
• Teach others who are asking for help.
• Give honest and helpful feedback positively.
• Deepen your emotional connections with others.
• Kindness when a colleague bugs the heck out of you.
• Patience when your boss, peer or customer "just doesn't get it."
• Listen to feedback, consider objectively, and be open to change.
• Lead with gratitude as frequently as you ask for help or give feedback.
• Deal with any issues early. Be direct. Be kind. Get to the point. Move on.
• Commit to look at the whole person vs. the one or two things they don't do well.
• Kindness to yourself and others when something doesn't "go right" or you miss the mark.
  
  

TL;DR

1. Kindness is the "make or break" skill for modern leadership and success.

2. Kindness does not mean allowing others to walk on you, but clearly setting expectations and boundaries.

3. Kindness to others is just as important as kindness to yourself.

See you next week.



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