‎ What if someone told you the key to success was kindness?\n\n\nWhile it doesn't always make headlines, there is a growing recognition that kindness is vital to strong performance at work. In the broad range of leadership skills, kindness is inherently quieter, more personal and harder to see - and yes, less interesting or cinematic than controversial tweets and 'bullying boss' behaviour. But kindness builds empathy and trust, which ultimately creates a sense of psychological safety - and that safety leads to more creativity; a better quality of decision-making; safer critical thinking; higher levels of staff loyalty, flexibility and retention; a heightened sense of engagement; and, ultimately, higher productivity and profitability.