I've got a "care boss" right now — and it changes everything.

I've got a "care boss" right now — and it changes everything.

Not because of grand gestures or groundbreaking initiatives. Because of the small stuff.

The 1:1s that don't get canceled three times in a row. The "How's your bandwidth this week?" check-ins that aren't just corporate script. The asking "What do you need from me?" and then following through.

It turns out the small stuff is the big stuff.

I haven't always had this. I've worked for smart people who meant well but treated our meetings like they were optional.
People who said "my door's always open" but were somehow never available when you needed them. Good intentions, terrible follow-through.

What I've learned from those experiences is that intent without action doesn't just disappoint people, it erodes trust... quickly.

Consistency and showing up like you said you would... that builds something real.

The research backs it up: Gallup found managers drive 70% of the variance in employee engagement. Active listening boosts collaboration by 25% and satisfaction by 30%. And follow-through increases trust by 34% while cutting turnover by 28%

Not strategy. Not comp packages. Managers showing up like leaders.

Caring leadership isn't new, but it's still more rare than it should be.
And it doesn't require budget approval or a task force.
And it especially doesn't mean being weak on performance.

I'm grateful to be learning this firsthand right now. Because the difference between a boss who cares and one who just says they do is everything.

In the end, people don't remember your slogans. They remember whether you showed up.