Kindness: The leadership secret too many people ignore

When I was a schoolboy in Allahabad, three of my teachers gave extra math tuition to a few of us who could not afford it, asking for nothing in return, simply because they cared. Years later, a priest lent me a small but crucial sum to pursue my teacher training — another quiet act of generosity that made all the difference. These gestures left a mark far deeper than any prize, showing me how even the smallest acts of care can ripple through a life, shaping hope, character, and courage to keep moving forward.

Reflect for a moment. When was the last time someone showed you real kindness? When did you offer it yourself, without expecting anything in return? Even the simplest gesture can change the mood, the moment, or the course of a day.

As a working professional for over 40 years, I’ve seen how kindness transforms people and communities — and how its absence quietly corrodes them. True leadership is not about asserting power. It is about listening, guiding, and inspiring through compassion. Arrogance, impatience, or harsh authority — even in clipped emails, curt words, or cold body language — erode trust, dampen morale, and alienate those around us. Leadership without kindness may secure short-term compliance, but it rarely earns loyalty, respect, or lasting influence.

Kindness appears in many forms: the words we speak or write, warmth in our tone, patience in our gestures, respect in our body language. It matters most when extended to those who may never repay us: the watchmen at the gate, lift operators, waiters, taxi drivers, or delivery riders who smooth our daily lives. These everyday, often invisible gestures reflect a society’s character, shaping culture and connection in ways we may never see.

Trust, goodwill, and the sense of community that help people work together grow when people, especially leaders, act with care. Ethics begins in recognising the humanity of others, even when they cannot reciprocate. Kindness is not optional; it is foundational to morality, leadership, and social cohesion.

Around the world, kindness is increasingly recognised as a driver of progress. Societies that cultivate empathy flourish. The UAE offers a striking example: respect, courtesy, and consideration are woven into daily life, creating communities where people feel valued. Leadership here, visible or subtle, often reflects a principle that care matters as much as competence.

In a world that is fast, divided, and distracted, kindness is not soft; it is essential. A thoughtful word, a sincere smile, a respectful gesture, or even a carefully considered message may seem small, but their impact is profound. Leaders who practise kindness do not weaken authority; they strengthen it. They balance accountability with empathy, firmness with humanity.

Imagine kindness as a public ethic — every classroom, office, and street corner carrying a quiet awareness that every person matters. That ambition need not exclude compassion. That innovation and ethics can go hand in hand. Workplaces would thrive. Communities would flourish. Trust, not fear, would define society.

Across continents and cultures, the lesson is clear: kindness is the most underrated leadership skill. In a world that often prizes speed, force, and results above all else, leading with care — in words, actions, gestures, and even brief messages — does more than achieve goals. It plants seeds of hope, nurtures hearts, and quietly shapes lives, leaving a legacy of warmth and humanity that outlives titles, accolades, and even time itself.

Take a moment to reflect, and let kindness guide your actions and nurture your capacity for care.

Michael Guzder is Senior Vice-President of Education at GEMS and a former Principal