256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success

The podcast explores the concept of kindness in leadership and the workplace, challenging the traditional focus on return on investment by introducing the "return on kindness" (ROK). Bonnie Hayden Cheng defines kind leadership as intentional actions that better the well-being of those under a leader's care, emphasizing that kindness multiplies and expands, leading to increased employee retention, commitment, and performance. Cheng introduces the RISE framework—Role modeling, Intentional flexibility, Supportive action, and Energy—as a practical guide for leaders to cultivate kindness. The discussion differentiates between niceness and kindness, highlighting that true kindness includes toughness and candor, enabling leaders to have difficult conversations while maintaining trust. Ultimately, building a culture of kindness requires intentional design, starting with a values refresh and consistent action, protecting kindness at all costs.