What Does It Mean to Put Employees First?

Last week, in “Powerful Women”, I reflected on how women are still too often unseen, under-credited, and underpaid at work. Human-first leadership means seeing each employee as someone’s precious son or daughter, not as an FTE or a resource.

This week, following National Mental Health Day, I’m thinking about how leaders affect the health of the people they lead. Bob Chapman shared Dr. Casey Chosewood’s assertion that the person you report to can have a greater impact on your health than your family doctor. That’s a sobering reminder of how much our daily work experience matters.

Chapman once told a room of CEOs that if they were worried about the cost of health care, they were part of the health care crisis. I hear that as a challenge to look honestly at the stress our leadership creates, and what we choose to tolerate. That's at the heart of human-first leadership and my book, "They're Worth It!  What It Means to Put Employees First."

My reflection and challenge to you this week is to take a step toward seeing every person you work with as someone's son or daughter.  Even if you historically didn't get along, what would you do differently?  How might this shape your leadership style going forward?

Coach Ha-Keem