Doing What Is Right

by John Keyser

I was moved by a spiritual leader this past week, who spoke about doing the right things. He asked that we think about the difference between compassion and indifference.

Let’s think about this in our leadership – doing the right things as leaders.

Our purpose as a leader is helping our team members learn, grow and succeed. It’s how we help them feel about themselves. It’s achieving our goals as a team.

I hope we all embrace our humility as it leads to compassion.

Humility directs our attention to the needs and strengths of others.

We embrace our humility by acknowledging that leadership is a gift to us, and we should try to use it earnestly and gratefully.

Compassion recognizes that each of our team members is unique. Each is at a different place in their development. As leaders, it is our responsibility to take actions to help each person reach their potential.

We must learn how we can help each team member. Some may need acknowledgement of how they are doing, some may need to be challenged, and some encouraged so they may reach their potential. They all need our timely and honest feedback.

Some naturally know how to succeed, others do not. That does not mean they are any less talented nor have as much potential. Simply, they differ.

Everyone wants to do good work and to be successful. Our helping them is our doing the right thing!

Too many people do not thrive as they are not helped to do so by their manager.

Recognizing that a leader pays great attention to her/his people brings this “doing the right thing” into focus.

My suggestion is that we commit to, as often as possible, almost daily if we can, to pick a person, maybe one who is struggling, on our team or in our company to have a conversation with. Ask how the person is doing, offer helpful feedback, encourage them, let them know we are rooting for them.

Even just 10 or 15 minutes, and longer if we can, will make a difference.

If we practice compassion rather than indifference, we will have a significant impact on the lives of our team members and colleagues.