National Hugging Day: Moncton CEO found hugging good for business

MONCTON – It’s National Hugging Day, a day to celebrate the benefits of a warm embrace. Studies show hugging has health benefits. But a Moncton CEO is finding that hugging can also be good for business.

Yves Doucet owns Dovico Software, a multi-million dollar international software company based in Moncton.

The successful businessman has been voted one of Atlantic Canada’s top CEO’s, not exactly the kind of guy you’d expect to be a hugger.

“I would rather be known as a hugger than a million dollar guy,” he said.

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“Business is relationship, relationship is personal. Don’t start with the business, start with the personal start – with a hug.”

Doucet hasn’t always warmed up to the embrace. He used to be a hard-nosed business man who would expect top productivity out of his employees.

But all that changed six years ago after a business deal went sour.

“I lost everything that I believed mattered. Everything that society measures you, your car, your house, your retirement plan,” he said.

He spent months feeling down and depressed.

“I would say the thing that saved me is my friends and family and my friends were huggers and so we started to hug,” said Doucet. “So that’s when I started to become more of a hugger.”

The CEO’s philosophy on life and business has changed.

“I measure my life by the thank yous I receive and the hugs I receive and that is my philosophy of life and business life as well.”

Now, he greets his employees and business associates with a warm embrace – respecting boundaries of course.

Jeff Nagle is one of Doucet’s employees.

“It made it very welcoming to be able to hug your CEO. It’s a little different from any other place I have ever worked,” he said.

“I love that he doesn’t care if it’s awkward or not sometimes it’s just spur of the moment,” said longtime employee Estelle Johnston.

“Some people are very insecure with giving a hug because they have a suit on. But when you break down that suit you get personal,” said Doucet.

But he says a hug is only effective if it’s truly genuine.

“You can’t fake a hug, you’ll know it.”