Is Being Kind Really a Path to Success?

There has been a lot of recent discussion about the importance of kindness in leadership. Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, is often cited as an example of a leader who is both kind and compassionate.

We often talk about how leaders need to have emotional intelligence, compassion, fairness, and kindness.

However, in reality, I sometimes see a very different picture. Machiavelli wasn't entirely wrong when he described the tactics of leadership as manipulation, lies, and coercion, and practices like threatening and trapping people with money are things we still see every day.

But are these leaders unsuccessful? Surprisingly, no. Despite all this, they can—and sometimes do—achieve remarkable results and great success.

Or perhaps, it's because of these approaches that they are so successful.

So, who should we believe and what kind of leadership should we encourage?

The truth is, no matter what your approach, people will follow you if you have immense energy, take bold action, and project a sense of power that instills a mixture of fear and respect.

I know some of you might be saying this sounds like an old-fashioned style of leadership. But if we're honest, it's an approach that still seems to work in the 21st century.

So, what kind of leader do you want to be?

I recently spoke with an executive who used to be in a C-suite role. She told me about a man she'd met who is now a consultant. She said he's an "adorable guy" now, but when she knew him as a CEO, he was "the most awful human" she had ever met. When she mentioned this to him, he simply said he "had to be" that way because he was the CEO.

I'm not here to judge what's right or wrong. However, when it comes to deciding what kind of leader you want to be, I think there are a few key questions you need to ask yourself:

- What do I need to achieve, and what kind of leadership is required to do so?

- How sustainable is the leadership style I use with my teams?

- And finally, who am I, and who do I want to be?

If you can clearly answer these questions, you'll know what kind of leadership you need to practice.

What are your thoughts on this? What's been your experience?