Care Is a Leadership Skill, Not a Personality Trait
You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend. But you do have to give a damn. That’s the job.
If that feels blunt, great. Because this particular leadership trait (genuinely caring about your people as people) is often treated like a personality bonus. (“Oh, she’s just naturally nurturing.”)
But research and common sense tells us something else: when employees believe their supervisor or someone at work cares about them as a person, good things happen. Engagement goes up. Trust increases. Performance improves. The vibe gets better.
What Real Care Looks Like
Care in leadership doesn’t mean you’ve memorized everyone’s enneagram, know their coffee order, and track their dog’s birthday. (Felix would argue you should know the dog’s name, but we digress.)
Here are six real ways to lead with care, no matter
your style
- Pay attention to how often folks work late, come early, miss doing things they like, or skip lunch (that happens in higher ed during crunch time, we know) – and be the leader-boss who says “Hey listen, why don’t you be sure to get out of here on time today?” or “I notice you are doing a lot of working lunches. Everything okay?”
- Remember the unique role you play in someone’s life and occupy it, not the roles you don’t play. Your staff folks have friends and pals. You are the person who creates a healthy, reliable workplace and ensures the vibe is warm and effective. They need you to hold everyone accountable, be fair, and be a role model WAAAAYYYYY more than they need you to be their friend.
Follow through on employee input (even if you don’t follow their advice). When a team member lets you know an idea, they have been vulnerable to you and others. Take the time to take it seriously and talk with them about what becomes of their ideas or suggestions.
Set out-of-work boundaries — and hold them. If the rule is “don’t text unless it’s an emergency,” define emergency, and hold firm, both for you and others. Learn how to delay-send your emails and texts. Encourage your folks to have a life – you show caring by ensuring they are spending time with their special people and fur.
When you bring treats, observe dietary restrictions. And ideally, not simply having a separate snack for the unique circumstances – when we all share the same foods, it creates community. (If you have a gluten allergy human, get a GF bakery on speed-dial.)
When someone screws up (which we all do!), make it an opportunity to teach and learn and show grace. We forge bonds in moments of difficulty, and the way you handle your emotions when you are irritable shows folks how you care when the chips are down.
The Takeaway
There’s no gold star for being the most caring supervisor on campus, but there is a noticeable shift in how your team shows up when they know you’ve got their back. So, bring everyone the gluten free snacks, make sure your staffers get home on time, and pinky swear on your campus handbook not to text them (or text back) after hours. Set the tone for a functional and warm workplace, and see what happens to your team dynamics!
