"People First" (T&Cs Apply)

Happy Thursday,

Everyone loves to say “we put people first,” and in NZ, the te reo Māori phrase “he tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata” has almost become a cliché for the public sector. It sounds good and signals the right intent. But actions don’t reflect the words, and many organisations fail to create a culture where people actually feel they come first. So how can you get past empty words and good intent? Let’s dive in.

🧠 LEARN something.

Let me be straight up: “people first” doesn’t mean blindly putting people ahead of profits, outcomes, or other priorities. Instead, it’s recognising that people are at the heart of delivering those profits, outcomes, and priorities. There’s a big difference! It’s not about endless kindness, empathy, or accommodating every preference. But about building a culture where people are respected, challenged, and expected to rise to their potential –sometimes in the face of adversity, discomfort, or unpopular calls. True people-first leadership means caring enough to give honest feedback, set high standards, and address poor performance. It’s about making the hard choices that protect the team’s integrity and long-term success, even if that means saying no, reinforcing expectations, or letting go of those who can’t or won’t meet those standards. When leaders combine benevolence (genuine care) with unwavering accountability, they create an environment where people feel valued and trusted, and actually feel they come first.

So how do you do this? To start with, focus on accountability as much as empathy. This doesn’t mean being harsh or rigid – it means being fair, consistent, and transparent, so everyone knows where they stand and what’s expected. Encourage open conversations. Invite feedback. But don’t shy away from addressing problems or holding people to their commitments. High-performing teams don’t just run on good intentions. They run on clear expectations and strong accountability that drives ownership at every level. People won’t always like you when you hold them accountable, but they will respect you – and themselves. But if leaders are NOT willing to do the tough stuff real leadership demands; and instead default to blindly protecting or prioritising people at all costs; then they’re not valuing people. They’re just protecting their own self-image of being a “people first” leader.

🤔 REFLECT on an idea.

You want to lead a team, or run a adult care center?! Jokes aside, we can’t forget that people come to work to make a contribution. In fact, being heard and respected for meaningful contribution is central to their self-confidence and self-esteem. So enable and empower them to do that, and people will feel valued.

😊 SMILE a little.

I love it when the ‘people first’ promise slowly turns into:
…just some people first,
…some of the time,
…only when it’s convenient,
…only if the budget allows,
…and only if no one has to have the difficult conversation.🤣

✅ DO IT to get results.

Shift the conversation from “Are you okay?” to “Are you in?” Genuinely caring about people means helping them see how they matter – not just how they feel. Bring them into the mission. Help them connect their strengths to the bigger picture. Make them feel valued, challenged, and accountable. That’s how people grow and how culture shifts from comfort to commitment. Do that consistently, and they’ll start to feel like they come first, because they’ll know they’re part of something that matters.

🌱 How we can support you and your team.

We provide strategic leadership solutions tailored to align with your business strategy, size, and budget. We can support your with:

• 1:1 Leadership and Performance Coaching

• Team Coaching, for high performing teams

• 1:1 Health & Lifestyle Coaching for busy stressed leaders.

• Workshops, offsites and team development.

• Or our flagship individual Leadership Coaching Programs.

Kia pai tō wiki

Kenny Bhosale

CEO & Founder, The Bridge Leaders