People who work today know that leaders who are kind and caring can change the workplace. Leaders who are empathetic not only gain trust, but they also help teams do well. Showing that you really care can motivate your employees to do well, turning everyday interactions into meaningful leadership moments that help them grow in their careers and do well at work.
I had a job interview with a woman, but she begged to reschedule because “My husband just died.” I agreed. When we met, she tried to make me feel bad for not hiring her by saying, “I have nothing left.” I turned her down because I was angry. She left without saying anything.
When I looked at the security camera later, my blood ran cold. I saw her in the office lobby with her three kids. The oldest one looked about 9, which is the same age as my son.
I felt a wave of guilt. She had just lost her husband and was doing everything she could to keep her kids together. She didn’t have time to grieve. After that, I looked at her resume. She was fully qualified.
Right away, I called her back. I knew she was the best candidate in the whole round, and I had already worked with her for ten years.
CJ Murphy
Two weeks ago, I said that the people who write on this site should see a doctor. You shouldn’t feel cold blood every time you have an emotional encounter.
2. I messed up a presentation for a client and froze up halfway through. I thought my boss would yell at me in front of the whole team. Afterward, she pulled me aside and asked what had upset me. Then she showed me some ways to stay calm. She even said she would help me present next time if I needed it. It was humbling; I thought I would get criticism, but instead I got help.
3. I stayed late one night to finish a report and spilt coffee on my keyboard by mistake. I texted my boss, thinking he would be mad and call me first thing in the morning. Instead, he brought a spare keyboard and a pack of cleaning wipes and said, “It happens to the best of us.”
He even offered to help me rearrange my desk so it wouldn’t happen again. I felt a little embarrassed but grateful when I left. I learned that mistakes don’t have to make you feel bad if someone cares enough to help.
4. I just opened a new office for my business. We need everyone to help. But one of the staff members told me that he would be going on vacation for two weeks soon. I said, “No.” The most daring betrayal I’ve ever seen. He said, “Got it, boss!” and then didn’t show up.
I was so angry that I pulled his closest teammate aside and asked if he knew anything. Marcus just shrugged and said something about a “family emergency.” I made the choice to call him. I asked him if everything was okay and why he hadn’t come.
He broke down and told me that his son had just had open-heart surgery. A wave of guilt hit me. I sincerely apologised and told him that work was the last thing he needed to worry about.
5. I didn’t mean to schedule two meetings at the same time, but I didn’t realise it until the clients started to show up. I was scared that my boss would go crazy. But she chuckled softly and said, “We’ll just split you up between the rooms,” and she helped me change my plans without anyone noticing.
I was shocked. Instead of scolding me, she taught me how to plan and set limits. That day taught me more than any class could.
6. I sent a rude reply to a coworker out of anger, not remembering that my boss was on the thread. I got ready for embarrassment. She sent me a calm message with a suggestion for a better way to say it, and then later pulled me aside to see how I was doing.
She didn’t make me feel bad; she just wanted to know how I was handling the stress. I learned that being a leader can be soft and still work.
7. I forgot to send in my monthly report on time, and when I saw my boss’s name in my inbox, my heart sank. I thought for sure I would get a long, angry email. Instead, he asked if I needed help getting back on track and then offered a short one-on-one to make things go more smoothly. I learned that being a leader is less about punishing mistakes and more about helping people get through them.
8. I was late to a team meeting because of a personal crisis and thought people would judge me. My boss smiled and asked if I was okay. He said he could fill me in on what I missed. No lecture, no blame. I didn’t feel ashamed when I left; instead, I felt supported, which made me want to work harder to earn her trust.
I told a client the wrong deadline and was afraid my boss would make me take the blame. Instead, she helped me write an email with a solution and taught me how to word things clearly. The client didn’t even know there had been any confusion. I learned that being nice can be a better strategy than being critical.
10. I broke an office printer while trying to fix a jam, and I thought I’d be blamed. My boss came over, looked at it, and said, “Don’t worry, it happens.” Here’s a quick fix. That moment stuck with me; I thought I would be angry, but I was calm and solved the problem.
11. I sent a client a half-finished draft instead of the finished version by mistake. I felt my heart race because I was afraid of getting angry. My boss quickly sent me a kind note telling me to send the final version when it was ready. Then he followed up to help me improve my work flow. I learned that leadership could be patient and still work, and that fear might not be the best way to lead.
12. During my first presentation, the client started asking me questions, and my slides stopped working halfway through. My boss quietly took the laptop and showed me the answers while I stayed in the background. The client praised our preparation at the end of the meeting, and I learned more about public speaking than I could have in any training session.
When bosses are kind and caring, workers feel valued and want to do their best. This way of doing things creates a good work environment where everyone succeeds and grows together.
