Leading Beyond the Workplace – A Call to Care

As leaders, we often focus on what happens within the four walls of our workplace. We ensure our teams are supported, processes run smoothly, and goals are met. But true leadership extends beyond the boundaries of the office, encompassing the care and responsibility we show for our team members even on their journey to work.

One day, years ago, I learned this lesson in the hardest way possible.

A valued member of my team didn’t show up for work one morning. Initially, we chalked it up to a late start or a missed alarm. We were busy, and there was no established protocol for what to do when someone simply didn’t show. Hours passed. The workday continued, but the growing absence started to gnaw at me. This wasn’t like him.

Later, we learned the devastating truth. On his way to work that morning, he had been involved in an accident while cycling. It wasn’t exactly as you see in the picture, however he was lying injured in a ditch, unseen and unaided, for hours before a passerby finally noticed and called for an ambulance.

I was horrified – not just by what had happened to him, but by how our lack of preparation had compounded the situation. We didn’t have an emergency contact protocol. No one checked in to see if he was okay. No one raised the alarm. His family assumed he had arrived at work safely, while we, at work, assumed he had simply chosen not to come in. That gap of unawareness led to unnecessary suffering, and it was preventable.

This incident became a turning point in how I view leadership and responsibility.

Caring Beyond the Workplace

The journey to work is part of the workday, and it’s easy to overlook. But if someone leaves their family in the morning and never arrives at work, it is our duty as leaders to notice – and act. We can’t control everything that happens to our team members, but we can ensure processes are in place to respond when things go wrong.

Building Processes to Protect the Team

After that day, we introduced simple yet critical procedures:

1. Attendance Checks with Timely Follow-Ups If someone doesn’t show up without notice, a system flags it, and a leader follows up within 30 minutes. This is not micromanagement – it’s care.
2. Emergency Contact Information Every team member provides an emergency contact, and leaders know how to reach them if necessary. Team members are told in advance that their emergency contact will be called if we’ve aren’t able to reach them within 2 hours.
3. Pre-Work Safety Conversations We began encouraging open discussions about commuting, including tips for safe travel and reminders to communicate delays or issues.
4. Training Leaders to Care Beyond the Workday Leadership isn’t confined to managing performance metrics or productivity. It’s about fostering an environment where everyone knows their well-being matters.

Why This Matters

When we take responsibility for our teams, we’re also taking responsibility for the trust they place in us. They entrust us with their time, energy, and effort – and sometimes, without realising it, their safety. Caring isn’t just a sentiment; it’s an action.

Leadership that truly cares is proactive. It anticipates risks and creates safeguards. It doesn’t wait for a tragedy to force change but instead works to prevent harm in the first place.

The Bigger Picture

This experience taught me that leadership isn’t just about showing up for your team when they’re present. It’s about caring enough to notice when they’re not – and acting swiftly. If one of your team members doesn’t arrive at work, will you notice? Do you have processes to ensure they’re safe? Are you prepared to protect the people who leave their homes each morning to contribute to your organisation’s success?

Leadership begins long before the first phone call or task of the day. It begins with the people who make it all happen – on their way to work, during their work, and after they leave. True leaders care about it all.

What steps can you take today to ensure your team is protected beyond the office? Share your thoughts below – I’d love to hear how you care for your team’s well-being.

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