Leadership Quality Through Kindness

In days past, loyalty was a given. The worker in past generations frequently remained with a company for his or her lifetime. It was not just a matter of a company town, it was an ethic ... the job was guaranteed by tacit tradition and in return for an honest day's work, the employee had the comfort of lifetime employment. Frequently it was an unwritten contract. Loyalty was universal and protection of the employee was fundamental and gratuitous. Employees spoke well of their companies and insured that quality service was given and excellence in product was achieved.

With the advent of a more troubled world, the intense focus of the corporate conglomerates on profits, the speed of communication, other technologies and a more permissive society we have drifted to a time of a created urgency. The perception of human value has diminished and with it, loyalty. So it is the rare enterprise that has leadership which, once again by example , demonstrates loyalty. Even in the compassion for profit must lie some allegiance to the folk who produced it. Employees still respond to kindness and loyalty.

I recently persuaded a business owner to pay a medical bill for a key employee, in an organization that does not provide a health benefit. The employee had been missing work due to an undiagnosed and debilitating ailment. I arranged with her to see a doctor. Then I "suggested" to the employer that he offer to pay the bill, which he did. When I related that to the employee, she was overjoyed. Obviously, one of the roadblocks for her was the cost of treatment. She could not wait to thank the employer and she is now "glued" to her job, with a loyalty reminiscent of days past. An isolated case, but an excellent example.

Weak leaders (and therefore ineffective) do, in fact, protect their own insecure positions by hoarding their control. It is a classic defense mechanism for dysfunctional leaders. It is a particularly difficult situation when the subordinate is strong and competent. That is one of those cases when corporate "politics" can fester into a nasty situation. Unfortunately, it happens.

Excerpts from a new book, "Looking for a Better World." Read more at: http://www.buybooksonthewe b.com/description.asp?ISBN=0-7414-2134-8

Dr. Malkin holds a B.Sc. in Business and a Masters and Ph.D. in Religion. He has made hundreds of visits to schools with a moving and effective motivational presentation, urging teens to do their personal best. His mentoring programs have empowered many, many children. His quest for years has been to teach the power of Right Action, working towards the goal of a better world.

---

7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams

7 Key Dimensions of High Performance Teams We can always... Read More

Safety First - Five Reasons to Hold a Routine Safety Meeting

Workplace safety is important to all businesses for ethical, legal... Read More

Top Ten Creative Excursions for Building Effective Teams

The ability to build effective teams is a must for... Read More

Hand Out Warm Glows

Do you remember how you felt after your last interaction... Read More

In 2005 Collaboration is Key

Perhaps you're a small business owner wondering how you and... Read More

Leadership ? Do The Simple But Important Things

Why do we human beings complicate things? Is it that... Read More

Always In Motion Is The Future

It's the summer of 1973, and a young film director... Read More

Business Team Building Strategy In The Jungle

"Tak kenak! Tak kenak!" "Adak Orang sanak!????"The quiet jungle has... Read More

Why It Pays to Out More Humor in the Workplace

1. Humor reduces stress levels and stress is the number... Read More

Cross-Cultural Communication: Grin and Jump In!

Multiculturalism is a reality in North America and for those... Read More

How to be Healthier and Happier In Your Organisation

Did you know your work environment can actually make you... Read More

Teamwork, Rowing, & Paddles

Effective and sustainable teambuilding is necessary in today's marketplace where... Read More

Top 7 Ways to Motivate Your Team

1. Involve them. Many employees want to be involved in... Read More

Manage Expectations to Reduce Everyday Frustrations

Just today my partner Russ and I sat down to... Read More

Team Building Seminars: Why New Teams Struggle

With over 25 years of research and experience, we have... Read More

Creating a Winning Staff Team

As a business owner, I've had staff come and go... Read More

The Team Process

We live in very progressive times, one only has to... Read More

Leading the Witness: How Asking Questions as a Trainer Can Limit Learning and Reduce Trust

"Asking questions can be a means of establishing authority, fulfilling... Read More

12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their Team Experiences More

12 Tips and Reminders for Team Members To Enjoy Their... Read More

Dealing with Difficult People: Ten Ways to Improve Your Communications Success

Have you noticed that some people seem to stop listening... Read More

Building The Winning Team

Winning teams aren't created by accident. Rather, the team or... Read More

People Are The Heart Of Your Organization

Do you let your people express their thoughts about the... Read More

You, Your Team, and Your Coach

The grand purpose of coaching is to help your managers,... Read More

Business Innovation ? Group Creativity

Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More

Leadership, Genuine, Meaningful and Productive

One of the best lessons I have learned is the... Read More

Leading To A Preferred Future

Last month's edition of Footprints and Monuments illustrated a parallel... Read More

Building Teams -You see it everywhere

A college football team has it. A corporation has it.... Read More

Build a Great Team - Ten Easy Ways to Start!

It's all about focusing on where the best value in... Read More

Aligning Teams with Organizational Goals

Teams don't have to be aligned with the goals of... Read More

Team Journaling

The very effective tool of keeping a journal can be... Read More

Whats Your REAL problem??

When was the last time you spent excessive time and... Read More

The 3 Secrets of Team Motivation

Are workers telling the truth when they say they are... Read More

Having Trouble Motivating Others? Try WIIFM

Recently my fourteen-year old son Matt dressed up as Santa... Read More