Before We Begin

"You know your problem, Magnus?"

My boss fixed me with a hard stare. 

Here we go, I thought. He thinks he's going to help me by pointing out how wrong I am. I hadn't been leading the business for long but had already become accustomed to the way the boss operated.

"Your problem, Magnus..." 

Pause for effect.

"...is that you're just too kind."

Stare hardened – presumably to reinforce the point – then softened as he put his hand on my shoulder. Here comes the fatherly advice bit...

"You need to be tougher with your team. Make them compete with each other to get ahead."

He looked around an empty office. At 7.30am.

"Get them starting work at the same time as you and wanting to be the last man out. They need to be ambitious – and ruthless. After all, it's what I expect from you."

We returned to the P&L and how I was going to make up the shortfall on targets I'd inherited, never agreed to, and thought were unrealistic, putting unnecessary extra pressure on everyone.

To succeed you have to do whatever it takes.

If that means fighting, you fight.

If it means running your business in a hierarchy, with strict command and control to get people to do exactly what you want, then that's what you have to do.

If people can't cut it, let them go.

The market is tough. Your people have to be tougher.

Nice guys finish last.

There's no place for kindness at work.

---

To my boss, and to all the bosses I have worked with who share his view, and to all the people who think work has to be dog-eat-dog – you are one of the reasons I wrote this book.

Because I believe you're wrong.

In fact, I can prove it...

I have seen what kindness at work can do.

Every day I speak with forward-thinking individuals at all levels of seniority who are working with, sharing and leading with kindness.

I have collated all the research showing how kindness at work makes us feel, how it makes us think and work differently, and the profoundly positive impact it has on our organisations.

The evidence is in. 

Kindness can help make work meaningful. It can help people thrive and do their best-ever work. It can produce remarkable performance and growth.

Kindness at work is a superpower.

So, I'm glad you are here. I'm glad you are one of the forward-thinking ones who agree with me. I'm glad that you are holding in your hands The Kindness Code: Seven Keys to Unlocking a Kindness Revolution at Work.

There is much to do. Together.

Let's get started.

You've just read the preface to my new book. I hope you enjoyed it. The Kindness Code is available from Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, iBooks, Google Play and other online bookstores.

I'm Magnus Wood, a kindness expert who works with organisations to unlock the power of kindness at work. Kindness can help make work meaningful. It can help people thrive and do their best-ever work. It can produce remarkable performance and growth. Kindness at work is a superpower that everybody at every level can use to thrive and grow. For more information on The Kindness Code, Magnus Wood and The Kindness Consultancy visit www.thekindnessconsultancy.com or message me here.