When I stepped into the CEO role at Dexian in July 2023, I aimed to strengthen our people-centered organization further, so that everyone would be valued and treated with respect and understanding. Our business succeeds when our people succeed. For this reason, we focus on nurturing an environment where everyone—our employees, clients, and consultants—can maximize their abilities and produce extraordinary outputs.
I believe kindness is a principle that leads to success in the future. Kindness has a contagious effect. When we lead with empathy and respect, we create stronger teams, foster innovation, and get a competitive advantage in the market. It’s not just the right thing to do, it has significant positive impacts for organizations.
However, despite the clear benefits of kind leadership, Dexian’s Humankindex Report reveals a troubling trend: workplace kindness as a management style is still not practiced enough. While 60% of employees say today’s work environment makes kindness more necessary than ever, only 26% of companies have increased their focus on kind leadership year over year.
This shift poses some critical questions. Why are companies not embracing this leadership style if it enhances productivity, engagement, and retention? How can more leaders bring kindness center stage to regain their competitive position?
Kind Leadership is Declining
According to the Humankindex Report, the perception of kindness in leadership peaked in 2022, influenced by pandemic-driven policies prioritizing employee well-being. Today, however, organizations are reverting to old habits:
- 39% of employees believe their company prioritizes profits over people.
- Only 46% believe their company truly practices empathy.
- 60% would rather work for a leader who helps them find meaning in their work than receive a 5% pay raise.
One of the reasons for this decrease could be that the “command and control” leadership style still prevails, and decisiveness remains valued over compassion. Despite the lingering perception that kindness is a weakness, the fundamental truth remains—to paraphrase Maya Angelou, genuine kindness requires great courage. It’s important to remember here that kindness is not the same as being nice. True kindness isn’t about avoiding hard conversations or keeping everyone comfortable—it’s about helping people grow, holding them accountable, and guiding them through challenges with empathy and respect.
An example is the shift toward return-to-office (RTO) policies, which some employees perceive as a loss of flexibility and trust. However, RTO doesn’t have to come at the expense of employee well-being or happiness. Organizations that communicate transparently, provide hybrid options when possible, and support employees through the transition back to the office can reinforce trust and engagement—demonstrating that a people-first approach remains a priority. In fact, I believe the collaboration and teambuilding opportunities that come with in-office work, balanced with flexibility, create an even stronger work community and have the opportunity to facilitate even greater kindness.
Why Kind Leadership is Good for Business
Kind leadership is the right thing to do and a business necessity. The 2024 Humankindex Report offers compelling evidence of its effect:
- 89% of companies say that kind leadership is a source of competitive advantage.
- People in kind workplaces are more engaged (88%), productive (87%), and likely to stay in their jobs (83%).
- Companies considered to be kind are three times more likely to be viewed as innovative.
Employees who feel valued and respected are more engaged, productive, and loyal. Conversely, employees who feel unseen or undervalued often disengage, doing the bare minimum until they find a new opportunity elsewhere.
Kindness also fosters collaboration and innovation. No CEO has all the answers—great ideas emerge when employees feel safe to share them. In today’s fast-changing landscape, innovation is critical, and kind leadership creates the psychological safety necessary for creativity to flourish.
Reintroducing Kindness into Leadership
Kindness in leadership does not imply that one should avoid making tough decisions or having difficult conversations. It means to lead with empathy, authenticity, and respect. Here are a few ways leaders can foster kindness without compromising on results:
1. Be Curious
Seek to understand before making assumptions. Engaging in meaningful conversations with employees is key to uncovering their motivations, concerns, and ideas.
2. Be Flexible
Design RTO policies, for example, that balance structure with trust. Offering flexibility where possible fosters morale, engagement, and productivity.
3. Show Appreciation
People like to be appreciated—it’s a universal truth. A simple ‘thank you’ can significantly increase employee engagement.
4. Practice Forgiveness
Mistakes happen. A culture allowing employees to learn from mistakes promotes creativity and growth.
5. Build Relationships
A good relationship between managers and their teams fosters trust and communication. Make time for personal check-ins and mentorship.
The Time for Kind Leadership is Now
The data is clear: kind leadership increases efficiency, creativity, and competitiveness. Despite these benefits, kindness in the workplace is on the decline.
Leaders have a choice. We can continue down the path of inflexible, profit-first leadership models that erode employee engagement and performance. Or we can embrace a kind, people-first approach that fosters growth, loyalty, and innovation AND drives profit.
Maruf Ahmed is CEO of Dexian, a staffing, IT, and workforce solutions provider. Driven by the philosophy of putting people before business and finance, Maruf is committed to creating an environment where individuals thrive, thereby delivering clients and consultants better experiences. Connect with him on LinkedIn.
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