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02_The Most Underrated Leadership Habit

The quiet source of power and influence without authority.

BUSINESS & LEAN MANAGEMENT

Waleed Radwan

12/30/20253 min read

The day began quietly.

Mr. Sage and Mr. Rocky stepped into the meeting room just as Ms. Pristine was walking out.

She held the door with a warm smile. “G'Morning, gentlemen.”

“Morning,” Rocky replied.

As she walked away down the corridor, Rocky can see her from the glass walls: Three people greeted her — a janitor, a junior accountant, and even the usually-grumpy security guard. All smiling. All genuinely happy to see her.

Rocky watched, puzzled. “Sage… How come everyone likes this lady so much?”

Sage placed his notebook on the table as he sat down. “Because influence isn’t about authority. It’s about humanity.”

Rocky didn't quite get it. He waited for Sage to explain.

Sage continued as he adjusted his seat, “She remembers people’s names. She asks about their families. She checks in when someone is sick. She makes people feel seen. And though none of them report to her, but, trust me, I've seen them happily respond to her instructions faster than they would do with their own bosses!”

He opened his notebook, preparing for their next meeting, while waiting for others to arrive. He paused for a while thinking about this topic that Rocky just opened.

“You know, Rocky, there are several books I came across about this topic…… plus ……my own personal experience with that". He was intrigued. It seems the topic sparked Sage's interest.

"There's this book called "Compassionate Leadership" which says people actually follow those who make them feel valued. Not the loudest. Not the highest‑ranked. The most human……. Interesting, huh?”

He tried to smooth out his grey hair-patch than barely covered is half-bald head…… and continued.

"And a few other books as well like The Quiet Power of Kindness, The Power of Nice, and The Power of Small ….. I'm not really good with the names, but they all so 'powerfully' say something along the same lines."

"Like what?", Rocky asked, trying to pull more out of the old man's vast readings.

"Well, they say …… that……. kindness doesn’t shout. It doesn’t demand. It simply changes the emotional temperature of the workplace………. That kindness isn’t weakness. People go the extra mile for those who treat them well. And that tiny gestures accumulate, simply because they build trust, connection, loyalty…you know.”

Rocky nodded slowly. Looking down. Thinking.

Sage paused, his faced changed, then said something he rarely shared.

“You know, Rocky… Although I like reading, but to be frank…. I actually learned this lesson at home before I ever learned it from these books.”

Rocky looked up, eyes wide open, eyebrows lifted.

Sage continued.

“Years ago, when my granddaughter was in primary, I used to leave her tiny notes in her lunchbox. Just silly drawings from Grandpa. I never thought much of it. Life was busy. Work was loud. Those notes felt… small.”

He smiled softly.

“Last year, she told me she kept every single one of them. She said those notes made her feel important. Not even sure why. And, honestly, I only did it a few times. But I had no idea about how she felt. Not until she was grown.”

Rocky’s facial expression softened. Touched.

Sage tapped his notebook with his pen. “Kindness isn’t just for the workplace. It’s for your home. Your neighbor. Your Uber driver. The cashier who’s had a long day. Just a smile or greeting can make a difference you never realize.”

Rocky was about to crack another stupid joke, but he felt it was bad timing.

He watched Sage as he unexpectedly stood up, walked to the whiteboard and wrote:

“KINDESS is the smallest investment, with the highest return.”

And he added two up and down arrows, to make it more visual.

He stopped for a second, remembered how whiteboards are constantly erased. So he went to the flipchart, opened a new sheet, and added 3 more quotes, in large font:

“A kind word can do what a policy never will"

"Be the reason the room feels lighter"

Then in bigger font,

"Influence grows…. where ego shrinks"

Rocky liked the idea that Sage deliberately left some quotes on the board as a conversation starter, when others arrive, and for other meetings to come.

Smart old man, thought Rocky.

Sage was probably preparing for the upcoming meeting… an expectedly tough one!

Rocky thought the lesson was over — but Sage had one more surprise waiting for him.

And as the team began to enter the room, Sage smiled secretly to Rocky.

Sage was cooking for something.

Will find that out in the next edition!

Image from Freepik