The ROI of Being Kind in Leadership

In today’s fast-paced, results-driven world, it can be tempting to prioritize efficiency and hard metrics over softer skills like kindness. Yet, research consistently demonstrates that kindness isn’t just a “nice-to-have” quality in leadership—it’s a transformative tool with measurable returns. For leaders striving to create lasting impact, embracing kindness isn’t just a moral choice; it’s a strategic one.

Kindness Builds Engaged and Loyal Teams

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou’s words resonate deeply in the workplace. Employees don’t leave jobs; they leave managers. Gallup research shows that managers influence 70% of the variance in employee engagement, and kindness plays a pivotal role in creating workplaces where people want to stay.

A client of mine, a senior executive in a global tech firm, struggled with high turnover on her team. Together, we worked on integrating kindness into her leadership style—taking time to listen, showing empathy during one-on-ones, and recognizing her team’s contributions. Within six months, her team’s engagement scores rose by 30%, and turnover dropped significantly.

Retaining employees isn’t just a cultural win; it’s a financial one. Turnover costs average 50%–200% of an employee’s annual salary and replacing skilled talent can be a massive drain on resources. Kindness saves money while building loyalty and trust.

The Link Between Kindness and Team Performance

Kindness isn’t just about making people feel good—it’s about unlocking their full potential. Google’s "Project Aristotle" found that psychological safety is the most important factor for high-performing teams. When leaders create an environment of trust and kindness, team members feel safe to express ideas, admit mistakes, and take risks.

One executive female leader coaching client shared how a simple act of kindness—personally checking in with an overwhelmed team member—had a ripple effect. That employee, feeling supported, brought renewed energy to a key project, rallying her team to exceed expectations. Small acts of kindness can lead to extraordinary results.

Kindness Fuels Customer Loyalty

Kindness doesn’t stop at internal teams—it resonates powerfully with customers. A recent Deloitte study revealed that 60% of consumers prefer to support brands that prioritize fairness and ethical practices.

Take Southwest Airlines, for instance. Their “employees first” philosophy creates a culture of kindness that extends to customers. This approach has earned them industry-leading customer loyalty and consistent profitability.

As Simon Sinek says, “People don’t buy what you do; they buy why you do it.” Leaders who prioritize kindness align their values with their actions, building trust that fosters long-term customer relationships.

The Health Benefits of Kind Leadership

Kindness also benefits health and well-being. Workplaces that embrace civility see lower levels of stress, burnout, and absenteeism. A study in Frontiers in Psychology found that practicing kindness reduces stress and fosters a greater sense of purpose for leaders themselves.

An executive client who is Chief Revenue Officer remarked that practicing daily acts of kindness—offering support to colleagues, or even pausing to listen—had not only improved her team’s morale but also given her a profound sense of fulfillment. “I didn’t realize how much I needed kindness until I started giving it away,” she said.

A Call to Action for Leaders

Kindness is not just about doing the right thing—it’s about doing the smart thing. Leaders who prioritize kindness build stronger teams, foster innovation, and create organizations that people want to support and invest in.

So, here’s my challenge to you: Start small. Take five minutes today to genuinely check in with a team member, write a note of appreciation, or lend a listening ear. Kindness costs nothing, but it delivers dividends for years to come.

Remember, the ROI of kindness is undeniable. For leaders seeking to leave a meaningful legacy, kindness is your most powerful—and profitable—tool.

How The Fearless Female Leader Help Boost the Power of Being Kind

While the first two sections in my upcoming book, The Fearless Female Leader, are on Clarity (legacy planning, 90-day planning increments, getting clear and intentional on every interaction/conversation) and Confidence (building a world-class belief system, boosting self-efficacy, and ability to speak up and innovate), the third section on Influence is no distant third.

The bedrock of building FBI-level influence and gaining buy in from others rests on our ability to build strategic empathy™. In other words, to care about your counterpart, even those who have wronged you or those who you are not too fond of. 

Why?

Because it’s a biological need for human beings to feel safe and cared for. If we are kind and communicate that we care, we are more likely to make progress or gain buy-in. What we think also tends to come out of our mouths via tone, pitch, or body language. So, to sound like we care, we DO have to care.

To use strategic empathy™ effectively, we must practice being kind and caring about others circumstances and point of view. 

If you’d like to learn more or join The Fearless Female Leader VIP pre-sale list (lots of goodies included!:), you can join us here.

If you’d like to have a conversation about working with me 1:1 or partnering on retaining to help empower the female leaders in your organization, let’s chat! 

Cheering you on always and cheers to 1 million Fearless Female Leaders in 2025 (#1FFLMM)!