Sure, Kindness is the Highest form of Wisdom but Don't be a Nice Boss

Sure, Kindness is the Highest form of Wisdom but Don't be a Nice Boss

“Nice” is overrated, ineffective, and bringing your entire team down.

I do indeed believe that Kindness is the Highest Form of Wisdom but allow me to make an important distinction between being kind and being nice.

“Nice” is overrated, ineffective, and bringing your entire team down.

Being Nice might seem easy in the short term- to let it go, to gloss over the short comings or small rule breaking or corner cutting of your team. You let it slide, let it go, give them the benefit of the doubt.

Stop doing this.

The only thing this is accomplishing is degrading your business’ progress, goals, vision and over all success. More importantly, it’s doing nothing for the members on your team. It hinders their potential to shine in their positions and grow with you.

Instead of “nice”-

Be fair.

Be decisive.

Be clear in your expectations.

Strive to be generous with time, patience, knowledge, expertise, and money.

Work on being Compassionate. Grateful. Accountable.

Respectful. Joyful. This is where kindness & wisdom come in.

There is a difference. A big one.

Ask yourself: do you really not mind that someone came in late for the fifth time in a row and is out of uniform and every time you look at them they’re scrolling on their phone and now you are cleaning up their shoddy work?

This can be applied to anyone, anywhere, when clear, communicated expectations are not being met.

Stop being a people pleaser, a peace keeper, an expert of walking on egg shells- and start being a boss.

If you never learned how to say no or how to create and uphold boundaries or to speak up for yourself, start doing the work now.

Even if you think it’s too late because you’ve already let everyone do whatever they want for the sake of being nice. I’m here to tell you, it is not too late.

You just need to do the work.

So, how do we do this?

1- The Work

Create clear and concise policies, processes and procedures:

Employee handbook, checklists, proper training, feedback opportunities.

2- Use them!

Communicate and follow up. Policies and procedures are only as effective as they are actually used. If something is not working, update them.

3- Hold everyone on your team Accountable. Most importantly- yourself.

Here’s a script:

“Ok team, I am setting some new goals for [myself / the quarter / the season / the year] and I need [you / everyone] to be on board in order to get to where we need to be -so- there’s gunna be some changes.”

“I’m expecting everyone to be on time / prepared [insert expectation here].

If latenesses/preventable mistakes/under performance/unmet deadlines, [insert shoddy work problem here] continues:

First: you will be written up.

Second: it will be reflected on the schedule by a shift removal / loss of a privilege / another write up [insert disciplinary action here]

Finally: for chronic cases- termination. Notice the period at the end of that sentence.

Again, this only works if you have solid processes and procedures in place, first.

(If you don’t, hold up, back up, sit down, do the work)

They must be clear, fair and effective policies and procedures for whoever or whatever you need to manage. Then communicate them. Then use the script.

Listen, we’ve all been there.

If you’re staff is running amok with no direction, then you have to set the standards, in writing, in checklists, in training, in systems, then you hold them to it!

Talk to your staff! Ask them for feedback in updating systems. Bring them along to make the policies and procedures better. Ask for their input: what would make their jobs easier, better, more effective?

Then, listen to the feedback. I bet you have someone on your team right now who would love to help update the policies and procedures.

When someone or something falls short, rise up.

If the work does not meet your standards, help them to see where and how they could have done better and watch for improvements. Mistakes happen but continuous and avoidable errors must be addressed quickly and clearly.

Let me know a scenario your struggling with because you’re “trying to be nice”

Or a time that you got burned by being nice when you should have been clear and concise on your expectations.

It is possible to be kind and uncompromising on your vision and values.

This is how you get better together and everyone feels invested in why they are doing what they are doing. It creates purpose and vision and dare I say, a positive work environment!

Being “Nice” has nothing to do with it.