CARING
WHY IT MATTERS
People will always give more to leaders who care about them than those that don’t. People who feel cared for by a leader will do their very best for that leader. People want a strong and determined leader, but they also want a leader who is considerate, compassionate, aware of their individual circumstances, and kind. Leaders that demonstrate care for others win the hearts, minds, devotion, and allegiance of those they lead. Because they care about their people, their people in return care about them, and do all they can to make them a success. Leaders who don’t care about those they lead, but who see them as simply a tool in a toolbox, will ultimately be treated, supported, and viewed in an equivalent manner.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that care about their people see each person as an individual with unique needs, wants, concerns, challenges, goals, and hopes. They see their employees as real people, not just as a means to an end. They find just as much satisfaction in helping people succeed as they do in seeing their business succeed. The two things they desire most for the end of their career is the satisfaction that they grew their organization and that they made a positive difference in the lives of those they lead.
Leaders that care for other people give them every chance to succeed. When it comes to performance problems, they invest in helping people get it right, instead of taking punitive action right away. They believe in giving people second chances to do things right, as long as their people are really trying their best. If people prove they can’t perform they have the courage to make needed changes, but they do so with consideration and in a way that protects the individual’s dignity.
Leaders that care for others have a genuine desire to serve others. They invest their time and energy to help people in times of crisis or need. Instead of believing people are there to help them succeed, they believe they are there to help their people succeed. They pay attention to people. They are sensitive to their feelings. When they become aware that someone is struggling personally they maintain the right professional boundaries while doing all they can to help. They speak words of encouragement, and lift people up in their hard times.
Leaders that care treat all people as equals. They resist the temptation to treat people with less than respect because of their ethnicity, political views, personal orientation, or religious affiliation etc. They have zero patience for intolerance of any kind.
Leaders that care about others feel deep empathy and show true compassion. Rather than thinking “I am glad it’s not me,” they think, “what if it was me?” They put themselves in other people’s shoes and act with courtesy, understanding, and generosity. They treat others how they would like to be treated.
Leaders that care about people know work is only one part of a person’s life. Rather than act as if work is the only thing matters, they create an environment that encourages work-life balance. They do what they can to support their peoples’ efforts to equalize for their work, personal, family, and social life.
BELIEFS
BEST PRACTICES
SELF-REFLECTION
WORDS OF CAUTION
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
People will always give more to leaders who care about them than those that don’t. People who feel cared for by a leader will do their very best for that leader. People want a strong and determined leader, but they also want a leader who is considerate, compassionate, aware of their individual circumstances, and kind. Leaders that demonstrate care for others win the hearts, minds, devotion, and allegiance of those they lead. Because they care about their people, their people in return care about them, and do all they can to make them a success. Leaders who don’t care about those they lead, but who see them as simply a tool in a toolbox, will ultimately be treated, supported, and viewed in an equivalent manner.
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
Leaders that care about their people see each person as an individual with unique needs, wants, concerns, challenges, goals, and hopes. They see their employees as real people, not just as a means to an end. They find just as much satisfaction in helping people succeed as they do in seeing their business succeed. The two things they desire most for the end of their career is the satisfaction that they grew their organization and that they made a positive difference in the lives of those they lead.
Leaders that care for other people give them every chance to succeed. When it comes to performance problems, they invest in helping people get it right, instead of taking punitive action right away. They believe in giving people second chances to do things right, as long as their people are really trying their best. If people prove they can’t perform they have the courage to make needed changes, but they do so with consideration and in a way that protects the individual’s dignity.
Leaders that care for others have a genuine desire to serve others. They invest their time and energy to help people in times of crisis or need. Instead of believing people are there to help them succeed, they believe they are there to help their people succeed. They pay attention to people. They are sensitive to their feelings. When they become aware that someone is struggling personally they maintain the right professional boundaries while doing all they can to help. They speak words of encouragement, and lift people up in their hard times.
Leaders that care treat all people as equals. They resist the temptation to treat people with less than respect because of their ethnicity, political views, personal orientation, or religious affiliation etc. They have zero patience for intolerance of any kind.
Leaders that care about others feel deep empathy and show true compassion. Rather than thinking “I am glad it’s not me,” they think, “what if it was me?” They put themselves in other people’s shoes and act with courtesy, understanding, and generosity. They treat others how they would like to be treated.
Leaders that care about people know work is only one part of a person’s life. Rather than act as if work is the only thing matters, they create an environment that encourages work-life balance. They do what they can to support their peoples’ efforts to equalize for their work, personal, family, and social life.
BELIEFS
- Leaders lead people, and people’s lives are more than just work. Leaders do what they can to ensure appropriate work-life balance.
- Everyone has hopes, concerns, and dreams. When leaders see their people as people, they will naturally care more for them.
- Leaders who care for people treat people as human beings, not as a means or a tool to achieve a selfish goal.
- One of the greatest successes you can have as a leader is taking the time to serve and lift someone else who needs you.
- The leaders who get the most out of their people are the ones who serve and put the most into their people.
- Nobody deserves to be treated with anything less than genuine kindness, care, deference, tolerance, and respect.
- Caring for people does not mean overstepping boundaries of propriety, but it does mean lifting them in their time of need.
- You can’t fake caring about people. You either care about people or you don’t. People can tell when someone is less than sincere.
BEST PRACTICES
- Help people when they struggle.
- Give your time to your people.
- Get results, but never at the expense of people.
- Feel empathy for people’s challenges.
- Don’t see people as just a means to an end.
- Have a genuine concern for people’s happiness.
- Feel sympathy when hard times come.
- Try to get to know people individually.
- Understand people’s hopes, desires, and goals.
- Spend extra energy on people when needed.
- Respect other people’s feelings and thoughts.
- Balance building people and getting results.
- Make time to serve someone each day.
- Treat everyone with fairness and equality.
- Show regular gratitude for people’s efforts.
- Be helpful when people need a helping hand.
- Practice patience when it is deserved.
- Be constantly kind and respectful.
- Look for ways to build people up.
- Compliment others on what they do well.
- See your leadership role as a people role.
- Do thoughtful acts of kindness.
SELF-REFLECTION
- Do I see people as unique individuals, or do I fail to really know and understand those who work for me?
- Do I find satisfaction in seeing someone else succeed, or do I only find satisfaction in my own success?
- Do I want to be remembered by people for the good I brought their life, or do I only care about what they do for me?
- Do I give people every chance to get things right and fix mistakes, or am I quick to show anger?
- Do I treat everyone with kindness, respect, and dignity, or do I run over people to get what I want?
- Do I serve people in their times of need, or do I turn a blind eye and make them face their problems alone?
- Do I look for ways to lightens other people’s loads, or do I only care about my own well-being?
- Do I pay attention to how people are doing and feeling, or do I rarely lift my eyes up from work long enough to care?
WORDS OF CAUTION
- Don’t inadvertently cross professional boundaries of propriety and get too involved in the personal lives of those you lead.
- Don’t care so much about people that your desire to be the “nice guy” gets in the way of making tough decisions.
- Don’t cripple your ability to carry your own burdens because you take upon yourself other’s problems too much.
PSYCHOMETRIC 360 QUESTIONS
- Taking time to help someone with a personal problem during the workday is time well spent.
- Even when I really dislike someone, they would never know.
- I always have time to talk to my coworkers.
- I never unintentionally hurt someone’s feelings.
- I make sure to say thank you to people.