Why I am looking for kind leaders in the Asia Pacific?

Reception hosted by Countess of Wessex Sophie Rhys-Jones at St. James’s Palace to announce the 2019 UK List. Pictured from left: Kindness & Leadership Leading Lights Founder Pinky Lilani CBE DL, Princess Badiya Bint El Hassan, Countess of Wessex Sophie Rhys-Jones and Unilever Executive Vice-President Global Marketing, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Aline Santos

By Pinky Lilani

Profitable, powerful, productive… these are all words we use to describe leaders, yet we so rarely mention or celebrate kindness. Indeed, too often we associate kindness with weakness – but nothing could be further from the truth.

As the Founder of the Kindness & Leadership Leading Lights initiative, a unique programme to celebrate kind leaders across the UK and now Asia Pacific, I have seen the true power of kindness in business and leadership.

It is not a secret weapon, rather it is the DNA that can transform relationships, impact outcomes (whether productivity, engagement or customer service), and uplift our colleagues and communities. By empowering others to succeed, kind leaders create an environment for organisations as a whole to thrive. This this is exactly why this year we launched Kindness & Leadership Leading Lights in Asia Pacific to celebrate 50 kind leaders, an initiative sponsored by Asia Square in Singapore.

What do I mean by kindness? It can be anything, big or small, that you do – and this is key – without expecting something in return.

In a world in which we obsess over statistics, ROI; and are under constant pressure to innovate and adapt, with our time seemingly running faster and faster through the hourglass, kindness has the power to set leaders apart. It surprises; it cuts through traditional boundaries of hierarchy, gender and diversity, and it inspires action.

I have been honoured to witness many wonderful examples of kindness in leadership over the years, and there are many people who stand out. One was the late Baroness Tessa Jowell in the UK who always surprised me at each of our interactions by the way in which she used every opportunity to give more than she had to.

With kindness comes a feeling that is not easily forgotten. Think about customer service that has delighted you; think about a boss who inspired you to be where you are today; think about a brand or business you are loyal to because they seem to genuinely care. Kindness enhances the best qualities in people; it disarms a disagreement and it brings about collaborations which you may never have dreamed possible.

Since we launched in the UK in 2018, we have received hundreds of nominations, which have come from across all walks of life and professions from finance to law to the arts. Yet each one exemplifies what is possible when kindness is weaved into leadership. We hear over and over again, how our listees have used it to uplift their teams and give a voice to the voiceless. We announced the first ever Kindness & Leadership listees in the UK by opening the London Stock Exchange and then the next year, held a reception at St. James’s Palace hosted by the Countess of Wessex.

I have also seen how kindness begets kindness. For many years now I have invited candidates and their families into my home (I love cooking for others) for a meal shared around my kitchen table, and over the years, I’ve seen how simple gestures like this are reciprocated; how doors leading to new opportunities are opened without ever needing to ask.

As one of my favourite quotes by Cuban actress Hada Bejar puts it so beautifully, “The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.”

So join the kindness revolution today and nominate a leader you know in Sri Lanka. Nominations are open to both men and women and there is no charge to submit a nomination. Nominations must be submitted by another individual – self nominations are not permitted. See https://www.kindnessrules.co.uk/asiapacific/ for more information.