An interesting book by William Baker and Michael O’Malley caught my attention recently. The book, Leading with Kindness, got me to thinking about leadership styles past and present. The world of business tends to describe kind leaders as weak leaders, so developing kindness as a leadership trait doesn’t seem to be high on anyone’s priority list. But maybe it should.
The old “General Bullmoose” style of leadership was cartooned by the late Al Capp. Bullmoose was just that type of leader – sort of a bull-in-a-china shop kind of guy. It was definitely his way that was the right way. And when he wanted your opinion, he’d tell you what to say. Unfortunately, that type of leader still runs rampant in just about any field you can name.
The real surprise is that being kind is one of the most crucial attributes for success among many of the world’s most successful leaders. Baker and O’Malley interviewed two dozen executives and leaders from corporations, the public sector, cultural arts, the military – all areas where leadership is vital.
Here are the six qualities identified that help the best leaders run successful enterprises as kind leaders: compassion, integrity, gratitude, authenticity, humility, and humor. These qualities, say the authors, are essential to powerful leadership. Something to think about as you develop your leadership style.
Coaching Moments:
1. What leadership qualities are most important to you?
2. How do you demonstrate those qualities to others?
3. How would others describe you as a leader?
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