Ep. 41 The ROI of Kindness: Measuring Soft Skills with Hard Metrics
Wed Jan 21 2026
In this powerful roundtable discussion, host Laura welcomes back two exceptional leadership experts - Joanna Rawbone, TEDx speaker and owner of Flourishing Introverts, and Jacqui Frost, ICF-accredited coach and director of Leadership 43 - to explore why kindness isn't just a "nice-to-have" in leadership, but a strategic business imperative.
In this important episode, we explore:
Redefining Kindness in Leadership: Why kindness isn't soft or permissive—it's about leading with humanity while maintaining high standards and accountabilityThe Strategic Case for Kindness: How kind leadership directly impacts retention, productivity, mental health, succession planning, and company reputationThe Cost of Unkindness: From toxic workplace cultures to talent exodus, the measurable business consequences of unkind leadershipSelf-Leadership First: Why leaders must be kind to themselves before they can authentically lead others with kindnessPractical Implementation: How to embed kindness in ways that stick, even during crisis and pressureCourage and Authenticity: Why being kind in unkind cultures requires bravery and intentionalityThis episode challenges conventional leadership thinking and provides compelling evidence that kindness isn't just morally right, it's strategically smart. Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to leadership, this conversation will inspire you to lead with both heart and effectiveness.
Want to connect with Jo and Jacqui? Find them here...
Joanna Rawbone - Home - Flourishing Introverts
Jacqui Frost - Global Leadership Coaching: Unlock Potential & Build Resilience with Leadership 43
Want my support to build stronger connection and influence with your team?
Visit my website Leadership Consultant | Laura the Leaders Coach to discover all my services for both private and business clients, catch up on the latest episodes of The Leaders Podcast, and access my free resources.
Follow me on LinkedIn for regular updates and offers on my services Laura MacDonald | LinkedIn
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In this powerful roundtable discussion, host Laura welcomes back two exceptional leadership experts - Joanna Rawbone, TEDx speaker and owner of Flourishing Introverts, and Jacqui Frost, ICF-accredited coach and director of Leadership 43 - to explore why kindness isn't just a "nice-to-have" in leadership, but a strategic business imperative. In this important episode, we explore: Redefining Kindness in Leadership: Why kindness isn't soft or permissive—it's about leading with humanity while maintaining high standards and accountabilityThe Strategic Case for Kindness: How kind leadership directly impacts retention, productivity, mental health, succession planning, and company reputationThe Cost of Unkindness: From toxic workplace cultures to talent exodus, the measurable business consequences of unkind leadershipSelf-Leadership First: Why leaders must be kind to themselves before they can authentically lead others with kindnessPractical Implementation: How to embed kindness in ways that stick, even during crisis and pressureCourage and Authenticity: Why being kind in unkind cultures requires bravery and intentionalityThis episode challenges conventional leadership thinking and provides compelling evidence that kindness isn't just morally right, it's strategically smart. Whether you're a seasoned leader or aspiring to leadership, this conversation will inspire you to lead with both heart and effectiveness. Want to connect with Jo and Jacqui? Find them here... Joanna Rawbone - Home - Flourishing Introverts Jacqui Frost - Global Leadership Coaching: Unlock Potential & Build Resilience with Leadership 43 Want my support to build stronger connection and influence with your team? Visit my website Leadership Consultant | Laura the Leaders Coach to discover all my services for both private and business clients, catch up on the latest episodes of The Leaders Podcast, and access my free resources. Follow me on LinkedIn for regular updates and offers on my services Laura MacDonald | LinkedIn