Sunday Pick: Why kindness is the secret to a successful business | Fixable
Jan 19, 2025
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James Rhee, a professor of entrepreneurship and impact investor, shares insights from his remarkable turnaround of Ashley Stewart, a retail company for Black, plus-size women. He discusses how kindness can be a game-changer in business, fostering strong workplace dynamics and enhancing employee engagement. Rhee emphasizes the importance of compassionate leadership and building genuine relationships with customers. With innovative strategies, he illustrates how kindness can not only reshape company culture but also drive significant business success.
James Rhee emphasizes that fostering a culture of kindness and empathy can lead to significant workplace transformation and employee loyalty.
Rhee advocates viewing payroll as an investment in workforce empowerment, linking employee contributions directly to organizational success.
Deep dives
Embracing Home Workouts
A popular fitness trend is shifting towards home workouts, particularly with the introduction of low-impact equipment like the Hydro Rower. This approach allows individuals to bypass crowded gyms while still achieving their fitness goals in 2025. The Hydro Rower, designed by athletes, features an extensive library of immersive workouts filmed in beautiful outdoor settings, making exercising at home not only convenient but also visually appealing. This innovation emphasizes the ability to maintain a comprehensive fitness routine without the distractions and pressures of a gym environment.
The Power of Kindness in Leadership
James Rhee's journey as a leader highlights the significance of kindness and mutual respect in transforming workplace cultures. As the turnaround CEO of Ashley Stewart, he revolutionized the company not through mere financial strategies but by fostering a culture of empathy and understanding. He engaged deeply with employees, drawing from personal experiences to build trust and create a safe environment where individuals felt valued. This focus on kindness not only helped revitalize the business but also produced a loyal and motivated workforce.
Redefining Employee Investment
Rhee stresses the importance of viewing payroll not just as an expense but as an investment in the workforce. By shifting how labor costs are perceived, he encouraged employees to feel valued and empowered, linking their contributions directly to the organization's success. This transformation involved creative approaches to compensation and benefits, making employees feel like stakeholders in the company. By treating their efforts as investments, the company fostered a collaborative atmosphere that improved morale and retention.
Engaging Customers as Collaborators
Rhee's vision extended beyond the workforce to include customers as vital participants in the business model. He prioritized building relationships with customers, encouraging them to act as advocates and collaborative partners rather than just consumers. This shift led to remarkable improvements in customer satisfaction and loyalty, which were measurable through metrics such as net promoter scores. By redefining the role of customers, Rhee not only deepened their engagement with the brand but also created a supportive community around the company's mission.
Each Sunday, TED shares an episode of another podcast we think you'll love, handpicked for you… by us. Is kindness (and a little math) all it takes to save a company? James Rhee, professor of entrepreneurship, author, and impact investor, believes the answer is yes. This week he joins Anne Morriss and Frances Frei on the Fixable podcast to share lessons from his remarkable turnaround of Ashley Stewart — a retail company primarily serving Black, moderate income, plus size women — as a Korean American private equity investor who had never been a CEO before.
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