Weekends are time when things slow down a little. Your weekend shouldn’t be two more regular workdays. That’s a sure road to burnout. Take time to refresh yourself. Take time for something different. Take time for some of that reading you can’t find time for during the week.

Here are choice articles on hot leadership topics culled from the business schools, the business press and major consulting firms. This week there are articles about leadership and kindness.

From Marcella Bremer: Human Kind: Kindness is abundant

“What you believe often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Unfortunately. Believing that the world is hard, that employees are lazy and need to be controlled, that rich people evade taxes, that everyone competes and is greedy – will make your world so. Your distrust and responses will elicit a mirror response. The other might not share as openly, will react defensively in return, might not connect with you very well.”

From Brigette Hyacinth: The Best Leaders lead with Empathy and Kindness

“The COVID-19 pandemic has led to sweeping changes and disruptions in nearly every aspect of our daily life. More than ever managers need to be considering the well-being of their employees. Remember these are not normal circumstances.”

From Alida Miranda-Wolff: How Kindness Should Really Factor into Leadership

“We think we’re being kind when we spare feelings and avoid conflict, even though we’re in fact being agreeable, which is counterproductive. Or, we reject kindness entirely and run the risk of being so inconsiderate we provoke others to become defensive, shut down, or unnecessarily fight back.”

From Ivy Exec: 7 Reasons Kindness Is the Most Important Leadership Trait, According to Science

“Treating others with kindness is the right thing to do, but if you fill a leadership role, following the Golden Rule can be especially important. Several scientific studies indicate if you’re in charge, the best way to lead effectively is to treat employees with kindness. Who benefits from kind leaders? According to science, everyone.”

From Forbes: How Purposeful Kindness Can Make You A Better Leader

“Of course we view kindness as one quality of leadership. And, you don’t have to look very far to find many stories and articles promoting random acts of kindness. But, this made us wonder; is there any research to prove purposeful kindness makes us better leaders? Yes. There is.”

From Harvard Business School Working Knowledge: Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness

“The pandemic has challenged managers as never before, but one powerful leadership strategy is being overlooked, say Boris Groysberg and Susan Seligson: Be kind.”

From Chief Executive: Why Businesses No Longer Have to Choose Between Heart, Head and Wallet

“The data shows a connection between the greater good and the bottom line.”

Every Monday, I do a blog post about business reading and business books. Follow this link to book recommendations for business leaders.