What if the key to business success wasn’t just strategy, innovation, or financial acumen—but kindness?
Forget the outdated notion that kindness is a weakness. In reality, it builds trust, drives collaboration, and fosters an environment where people feel safe to take risks and innovate. Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer at PepsiCo, puts it simply:
“At PepsiCo, we prioritize traits like kindness, trust, curiosity, and optimism when hiring. These qualities foster a collaborative and supportive environment, essential for sustainable success.”
Businesses that cultivate kindness don’t just feel better—they perform better. When employees feel valued, they are more engaged, creative, and productive. This means fewer toxic workplace dynamics, higher retention, and a stronger ability to adapt to challenges.
Research supports the idea that kindness leads to tangible business benefits (Thomason, 2022). A study published in Harvard Business Review (2021) highlights that acts of kindness increase productivity, reduce stress, and improve overall workplace morale. Employees who experience kindness from their colleagues and leaders tend to pay it forward, creating a ripple effect that enhances the entire work culture.
Kindness in action: Leading by example
Andrea Cottini, Operations Director in the luxury fashion industry, has seen firsthand how kindness strengthens teams and boosts creativity.
“I always encourage my team to think beyond their individual roles and consider how their work impacts the entire company,” Cottini shares. “Inclusiveness and diversity are crucial for stimulating creativity and innovation.”
Kind leaders create environments where employees feel safe to share ideas, admit mistakes, and take bold steps. This kind of leadership transforms companies from rigid hierarchies into dynamic, agile organizations that thrive on collaboration and fresh thinking.
Making kindness your competitive edge
More and more companies are recognizing that hiring kind people isn’t just good for culture—it’s good for business. Forward-thinking HR leaders now prioritize kindness as a core hiring criterion. Why? Because kind teams outperform cutthroat ones in the long run.
“When a team member faces challenges, whether personal or professional, a kind and trusting team rallies to support them,” says Porcini. “Such an environment enhances resilience and strengthens the organization’s capacity to adapt and evolve.”
It has been seen (Sezer et all., 2021), indeed, that companies with leaders who prioritize empathy and kindness experience lower turnover rates and higher employee engagement. Employees who work in kind environments are more likely to stay, reducing costly turnover and improving institutional knowledge.
The business landscape is shifting. Companies that prioritize sustainability, employee well-being, and social responsibility are gaining a clear competitive advantage. Kindness isn’t just an ethical choice—it’s a smart business strategy.
Here’s how you can bring kindness into your leadership approach:
- Lead by Example: Show kindness daily—through listening, supporting, and appreciating your team.
- Create a Safe Environment: Encourage open conversations and allow employees to take risks without fear of blame.
- Hire for Kindness: Look for candidates who show empathy, collaboration, and a willingness to support others.
- Encourage Peer-to-Peer Kindness: Implement initiatives that foster kindness among employees, such as mentorship programs, and peer recognition.
Kindness is no longer a “soft skill.” It’s a leadership superpower that fuels innovation, strengthens organizations, and leads to long-term success. The businesses that embrace it today will be the ones that thrive tomorrow.
To dive deeper into this topic and listen to these conversations in full—along with other discussions on creativity and business innovation—check out my podcast Creativity Matters! available on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0PF2Tkgirb8gAnF6EQLmmV?si=eb3ff507e82d4692
References:
De Molli, F. (Producer). Creativity matters! [Audio podcast]. Handelshøyskolen BI.
Sezer, O., Nault, K., & Klein, N. (2021). Don’t underestimate the power of kindness at work. Harvard Business Review, 7(8).
Thomason, M. (Ed.). (2022). Kindness in Management and Organizational Studies. Emerald Group Publishing