Empowering Leaders. Amplifying Impact. Connecting change-makers.

Why kindness works as a business strategy

Kindness is not the #1 strategy that comes to mind when thinking about effective business strategies—I know it was not something I learned when I started out in the workforce. I reported to a female leader who was rude and brash and made me feel like you were worthless and had no value to add. There was no sisterhood in that business, so I learned the art of listening and observation and knew one thing—I was never going to be like her.

Leaders are the ones we look up to and follow, a lesson ingrained in us from our earliest days in kindergarten to our high school graduation. As we transition into the workforce, we often find ourselves in organizations that are toxic from the top down. This is because they have been built or inherited by ruthless leaders whose primary focus is the bottom line and the material excess they can flaunt from the money they earn. They don’t care about who they burn along the way as long as they make it and remain at the top.

So here is a fun fact garnered from the Los Angeles Times: More than 6 in 10 companies will send their employees to office etiquette classes by 2024, according to a
July survey of 1,548 business leaders by ResumeBuilder.com. If somebody doesn’t fit into a culture—it’s likely because of workplace habits that are not aligned with their value set—and it’s time for them to leave to find a business that best reflects the foundation of who they are and what they stand for as that is where the greatest growth in a business comes from – alignment.

Today, I am inviting you to make a difference. If you’ve reached this point in my newsletter, you have the ability to be kind and an incredible leader.
Embracing Kindness in your leadership style benefits your team and business. It creates brings personal fulfillment and growth.

Imagine the ripple effect of your actions…

  1. By asking someone how they are, offering help, or even paying forward your morning coffee, you not only bring a smile to their face but also uplift your own spirits. These small acts of Kindness can create a positive and optimistic atmosphere in your business.
  2. If you lead a team, ask the people around the room in your next WIP or leadership to take a moment to ask each person in the room to think about how they can be kind towards each other by offering to share their wisdom in business or activate an introduction that may help the person they are sitting next too. I call this a mutual exchange of energy, and it is the foundation of the business I have built called Powerful Steps, which connects leaders and change-makers to create and deliver impact around the globe.

Remember – to build a powerful business, you need people who believe in you and the business you lead. It will:

  1. Gift you the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with your team.
    Employees who feel valued, respected, and supported are more engaged, motivated, and productive. Kind and compassionate leadership can create a culture of trust and collaboration, leading to higher job satisfaction, lower turnover rates, and, ultimately, better business outcomes.
  2. By treating customers with Kindness and empathy, companies can differentiate themselves from their competitors
    and create a positive and memorable experience for their customers. This can lead to increased customer satisfaction, loyalty, and positive word-of-mouth, all of which can directly impact the bottom line.

I have created and built two global businesses,
which involve juggling multiple time zones, cultures, and teams. By simply putting myself in someone else’s shoes and understanding what blocks their business or life, I can see how I can make a difference. It’s the small stuff that counts most.

Make today the day you switch up the way you show up…

Much love,

TORY xox

If you would like to learn more about how I use kindness and gratitude as a business strategy, join us with
Kristina Karlsson Founder of Kiiki K and Dream Life, for a breakfast event in Melbourne 27 August 2024 and Sydney 28 August 2024
tickets can be secured here