Did you know that “Living the Golden Rule” is a principle of conduct taught in virtually every country, every culture, and every religion? Studies show it is also one of the most impactful qualities of successful leaders:
- Kind, caring, and respectful leaders build kind, caring, and respectful cultures
- Kind and respectful leaders generate 60 percent higher profits
- Kind and respectful leaders have the highest retention rates with their people
- Happy, connected employees are 20 percent more productive
- Happy clients return and are 60-70 percent more likely to buy your products
This newsletter gives you four ways to live the golden rule and see an immediate impact in your work, relationships, and personal life.
Did you know that “Living the Golden Rule” is a principle of conduct taught in virtually every country, every culture, and every religion? Studies show it is also one of the most impactful qualities of successful leaders:
- Kind, caring, and respectful leaders build kind, caring, and respectful cultures
- Kind and respectful leaders generate 60 percent higher profits
- Kind and respectful leaders have the highest retention rates with their people
- Happy, connected employees are 20 percent more productive
- Happy clients return and are 60-70 percent more likely to buy your products
This newsletter gives you four ways to live the golden rule and see an immediate impact in your work, relationships, and personal life.
What Is the Golden Rule?
Living the Golden Rule is at its core a call to be kind, respectful, and caring. To live the Golden Rule is to set aside your self-interest and genuinely concern yourself with others.
Living the Golden Rule touches at the very heart of what it means to be human. To feel. To see another human suffer and suffer with them. To celebrate the wins of another with them. It invokes empathy, sympathy, charity, compassion, love, and kindness.
What Would You Do?
Think about what would you do in the following situation (true story):
A friend was at O’Hare Airport during an intense storm. Stranded passengers became impatient, hungry, and irritable.
Among them, a young, pregnant mother was standing in a long line at the airline counter with her young toddler crying on the dirty floor at her feet. She was sick and tired, and just wanted to go home. Not able to bend over and pick up anything heavy, she was pushing the crying child along the line with her foot.
What would you do if you saw this? Most did nothing, while others were visibly annoyed because of the crying. One man decided to act.
With a smile of kindness on his face, he said, “You need help. Let me help you.” He lifted the dirty, crying child from the floor and held her warmly in his arms and helped calm her. He explained to those in the line the woman’s need for help, then took her to the front of the line, spoke with the ticket agent, and soon had her checked in on a flight. He then found a comfortable seat for her and her toddler, chatted for a moment, and went on his way.
Do you think this mother will ever forget this act of kindness? How do you treat other people, especially someone who can do nothing for you in return?
Four Ways to Live the Golden Rule
The impact when you choose to Live the Golden Rule is profound. So, how can you best live by this principle? Here are some ideas:
- Develop the selfless servant-leader mindset. Remember that everybody is fighting a battle of some type, so ask yourself, “How can I help this person today?”
- Think about a customer, co-worker, friend, or family member who you could write a personal note to this week. Write the note, visit with them, and be present.
- Take time to visit with your team, learn about them, and check in on how they’re doing. Express your appreciation for them. Ask them, “What’s your story?”
- Brainstorm with your team and identify one thing you can do to make your customers – or employees – feel like gold. Have all the employees on your team focus on this one thing. It could be as simple as asking for their name, saying thank you, or smiling when you talk to the customer.
Four Ways to Live the Golden Rule
Balance isn’t weakness – it’s strategic. It prevents the diminishing returns that come from chronic stress and allows for the reflection time necessary for good decision-making. Leaders who find balance make better choices because they’re operating from a place of clarity, not chaos. Without balance, leaders burn out, make poor decisions, and create toxic cultures where exhaustion is mistaken for dedication.
Wrapping Up
Practice the Golden Rule in work and in life and you’re well on your way to becoming your best! It is a quality of the most highly successful leaders, and you are a highly successful leader!
“So, practice the Golden Rule professionally and personally and remember the law of the harvest: ‘You reap what you sow!’ What you send out, personally or professionally, will eventually come back to you.”
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