Unity Is Kindness - The Strength of Compassion in Action
By Mark Entrekin
Achieving Unity Success Formula (AUSF) Series – Article 7

Welcome back to our journey through the Achieving Unity Success Formula (AUSF). Today, we will share how Unity is not a Soft Skill; it is a Success Formula based on Kindness.

Kindness is not weakness; it is strength in its most human form.

Can you think of a time when a Chief Officer notices another employee that is struggling on one of their top priority projects and offers mentorship instead of judgment? If you were the Chief Officer, what would you do?

Kindness is the daily decision to treat others with dignity, as we want to be treated, to uplift others instead of tearing them down. In Unity, kindness becomes the glue that holds us together, a steady hand that builds trust, supports inclusion, and ignites our purpose wherever people gather.

Doesn’t it seem that, for too long, kindness has been misunderstood as something nice but optional, a pleasant add-on rather than a core competency? Yet, the truth is far different. 

Kindness in leadership means making the hard choice to address problems directly while preserving dignity. It means holding people accountable with respect rather than harshness. It means celebrating success publicly and coaching growth privately.

In true leadership, kindness is not a softness; it is wisdom in motion. It transforms authority into influence and influence into a lasting impact. Leaders who can lead with kindness invite others to rise, not because they must, but because they want to and they understand the valuable result.

When a leader chooses patience over pressure, listening over lecturing, and encouragement over ego, the example becomes a model others naturally follow. Kindness is not about avoiding accountability; it is about creating a climate where accountability is possible without fear.

An example might be a team leader who once noticed that one of their strongest employees had grown quiet and withdrawn. Instead of focusing on a missed deadline, they asked, “Is everything okay?” That one question could open a conversation that reveals a family crisis. 

Compassion does not weaken performance; it strengthens the team’s trust. Within days, morale and productivity can quickly improve because that kindness sets the tone for Unity, for all.

Empathy is kindness in action, the heartbeat of kindness. Empathy is about seeing life from another person’s perspective and choosing to respond with understanding. Unified teams thrive on empathy because it transforms from “my goals” into “our goals.” It helps people move from a defensive to a collaborative stance, even when they may not fully agree.

When team members feel heard and valued, they naturally communicate more honestly. That honesty creates innovation and connection. Empathy reminds us that before we solve a problem, we must first understand the people involved. When we Listen in Dialogue, Break It Down, Write It Down, Review Its Dependencies, and Get It Done (LID-BID-WID-RID-GID™), together, we turn challenges into opportunities for collective success.

In unified teams, empathy builds bridges where walls might otherwise stand. It helps us listen in dialogue, break down misunderstandings, and move forward together. Empathy is not permission for complacency. Empathy does not excuse poor performance or avoid difficult conversations. True empathy recognizes both the struggle and the strength within each person. It says, “I see your challenge, and I also see your potential.” 

Inclusion begins with kindness. Policies and programs can open doors, but it is our everyday compassion that makes people feel welcome when they walk through those doors. Kindness says, “You belong here. You are welcome here.”

In a family, kindness builds trust and safety. In organizations, it creates psychological security where people can express ideas without fear. In universities, kindness encourages curiosity and collaboration. In communities, it strengthens the bonds that turn strangers into good friends.

Kindness is the visible expression of the EII Framework, Encouraging, Inspiring, and Including others. It is how we move from intention to action, from division to Unity. It reminds us that every word, every smile, and every respectful choice contributes to a culture where everyone matters.

Small moments of kindness often lead to extraordinary outcomes. Kindness does not need a stage; it requires a heart that is willing to act.

What if you paused between classes at a university or going to another office between buildings to help a stranger gather scattered papers on a windy afternoon? That brief act of care can lead to a friendship that evolves into a shared purpose. We can learn so much more about others, and about ourselves, through communication and kindness.

What could begin as a simple gesture could grow into a movement that changes lives. Kindness rarely seeks recognition. It focuses instead on transformation. It is the quiet power that inspires others to act, not through obligation, but through shared humanity.

The true strength of kindness can quickly be revealed under pressure. When deadlines loom, tensions rise and communication breaks down; kindness will become the steady rhythm that restores calmness.

When we respond with grace instead of reacting in frustration, it does not mean ignoring challenges, it means addressing them with respect. It is possible to be firm and compassionate at the same time. In fact, that balance creates the trust that is necessary for long-term success.

When we pause, take a breath, and choose our words with care, we invite others to do the same.

That moment of intentional kindness can redirect an argument, reshape a meeting, or rekindle hope when fatigue sets in.

Closing Encouragement

As we wrap up this leg of our journey about kindness and Unity, we can see that kindness is not simply a virtue; it is a strategy for connection, a foundation for trust, and a bridge toward Unity.

It begins with one choice, one conversation, one action at a time. We can be the reason someone feels seen, valued, and supported. That is the strength of kindness. That is the power of Unity.

Whether in a couple, a family, an association, a corporation, an organization, or a university, kindness builds the culture we all long to be part of. It transforms frustration into understanding and turns disconnection into collaboration.

Let us lead with kindness. Let us listen, encourage, inspire, and include others until compassion becomes our shared habit. Together, we can continue Turning Chaos into Connection, building better businesses, better lives, and a better world, in Unity, together.

Choose kindness daily. It is how we transform struggle into strength, and connection into Unity.