Who said, “I have learned to imagine every person wearing an invisible sign that says, ‘Make me feel important’”?
This entrepreneur was truly ahead of her time. With just $5,000, she built a multimillion-dollar empire based on one principle: understanding women’s needs. She made every effort to know what was important in the lives of those who worked for her, and those who were buying her products.
Back in the 1960’s when she started her company, Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, knew that women were struggling in the working world. Not only was it a constant challenge balancing work and family life, but women didn’t have many opportunities to create a future that they felt they could have a hand in shaping themselves. Mary Kay’s philosophy of “Make me feel important” were not only words of inspiration she shared around the office and on stage cheering on her independent sales force, but she created an environment where women felt heard and appreciated, a place where they felt encouraged and rewarded for their efforts.
Mary Kay was a leader who listened to understand. She believed that “every person is special” and emphasized the importance of making others feel important. She not only offered encouragement and mentorship, but in selling cosmetics, she gave millions of women the opportunity to change their lives for the better.
Understanding is the third of five values to think about when you’re working to build trust within your organization. Those values are easy to remember. Just think of “TRUST” or…
- Transparency
- Respect
- Understanding
- Support
- Teamwork
Next, you’ll discover how leaders who support their team are more likely to be trusted.
Open Gate Consulting offers a variety of leadership resources to help you on your journey. From individual strengths-based coaching to deep dive courses on topics you are looking for.
Stay updated on our offerings by signing up for our newsletter below, and follow us on social media.