My friend and very kind former manager Martina Kuhlmeyer’s invited me to be the first guest on the new edition to her podcast: Difficult? Yes! Impossible? No! This series interviews guests who have succeeded in challenging situations.
Martina interviewed me about starting my own business, Karyn Ross Consulting, at 55 years of age...an age at which many people are thinking of retiring! During the interview, I told Martina that I actually had wanted to start my own business much earlier, but was discouraged by some unkind words from a leader that I had only met once.
To hear the whole story, and how I overcame the challenge, please take a listen to the episode. And, please remember, that when you have your Leader Hat on, whether you know the person well, or not, your words carry a lot of weight. Unkind words may make people think that what they want to do is "impossible" and stop them from making progress. Your kind words, however, will en"courage" them and help them overcome difficulties!
It's your words, and your choice! Please choose to speak and lead with kindness!
To learn more about the Three Speak Kindly Practices, please see Chapter 5 of The Kind Leader: A Practical Guide to Eliminating Fear, Creating Trust and Leading with Kindness.