True leaders come with true hearts

A friend of mine told me that the heart of a leader must be a caring one. Without this heart, his leadership will be without purpose.

In today’s world, perhaps we are afraid to show our emotions in the work place. Some people might take offense if you show your feelings of caring. As purchasing professionals, we should learn to accept a thank you. Accept it at the full value. Do not discount the compliment.

It is important to appreciate someone who has done a good job. It is important to let them know that you recognize their hard work. Many people leave jobs because they feel they get no recognition for working hard and going that extra mile for the boss and the company.

I have seen many procurement people pass through the department because of promises that were made and never carried out. A leader with a caring heart would not make promises just to get someone to go to work. Being honest with a new hire is very important. Don’t overstate the benefits and promises.

A good leader must recognize and acknowledge the contributions of his group. When you really put a lot of effort in to a project and are really concerned with the outcome, it shows you care. The paycheck does not indicate a great job has been done. A good leader with a good heart tells you.

Have you worked hard preparing for a negotiation, felt you really made a good deal for the company and it goes unrecognized? You have a great cost savings and it is not recognized. You get one of your suppliers to take a return on obsolete inventory. You could go on and on about situations that a small “thank you” would make your day. A good leader with a good heart would recognize these things.

Be a leader. Don’t make the mistake of not saying, “You did a great job.”