Leading with Compassion
We’ve all been there. We’re on a team that is focusing only on productivity and profits, but there’s a team we work with that looks AMAZING! They have fun, get along, are highly collaborative AND highly productive. We wonder, what makes that team so different? Why do they shine so brightly? Where does their SPARK come from?
Even if we haven’t been burned out, we can see that team is doing so much better, and those people on that team LOVE to come to work, LOVE to work together, and LOVE to have fun all at the same time!
The Secret
Their “secret” is very likely a Compassionate Leader. A Leader who sees each person on their team as a human being, that can’t “leave everything at the door and just work”. [Hint: That’s not how people’s brains work. It never has been.]
Leading with Compassion is a choice to embrace our humanity, work with our social brains, instead of against them, and create highly capable, highly productive, highly collaborative and FUN teams!
Yes! That's the kind of Leader I want to be!
What is Leading with Compassion?
Why is it so powerful?
Leading with Compassion is based on decades of research that show that when we lead with our humanity, we create connection with others. When we create that connection, we’re able to influence and motivate in ways that can’t be achieved any other way. When someone WANTS to do something for you or for your team because they truly believe in the work, there is a level of productivity and collaboration that simply can’t be achieved through the punishing “productivity and profitability” methods.
So why don’t more people lead this way? There are a few reasons. Mostly, it’s hard.
To be a Compassionate Leader:
- You have to be vulnerable and human.
- You have to practice self-awareness.
- You have to collaborate.
- You have to be open to feedback and continuous learning.
- You have to be willing to accept that your answers might not be the best answers.
You also have to be strong.
There are a lot of people who will tell you that it’s “mumbo-jumbo” or “mushy feelings BS.” That there’s nothing more important than stockholders' profits and productivity. Those are great SHORT-TERM goals. How do you maintain profits and productivity if you’re constantly cycling through employees that burn out from the toxic leadership they experience?
For LONG-TERM productivity and profitability, you need motivated and engaged employees that believe in the company and it’s WHY.
(Don’t believe me? See just about anything from Simon Sinek, but especially his books Start with Why and Leaders Eat Last. You can also check out Fred Kofman’s book, Conscious Business or Susan David, PhD’s book, Emotional Agility. These are all great resources that I highly recommend, whether we work together or not.)
You dream of being a great, compassionate leader...
But maybe you feel you already know yourself inside and out. Do you though? Really? Do you ever make choices that go against your values and goals? Are you clear on what your values and goals are? I had no idea what mine were for a long time.
Imagine how great it will feel to be able to maintain healthy relationships, act according to our values and goals and know what sort of impact we have on those around us!
But maybe you feel like you don’t have what it takes to lead a team and create the psychological safety a team needs to function well.
Psychological safety is defined as “a belief that one will not be punished or humiliated for speaking up with ideas, questions, concerns, or mistakes” per Amy C. Edmondson, Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School, as stated in The Psychological Safety Playbook by Karolin Helbig and Minette Norman.
It is created when we’re authentic with each other as humans. When we listen to each other and support each other. When we’re all working together to create an inclusive, safe place to be in. It starts when leaders are self-aware, curious, and empathetic with others.
Imagine what it will feel like to lead a team that feels safe! Where everyone is able to contribute and everyone is included in conversations and decisions and generates great success together!
But maybe you’re concerned about appearing “weak” or “emotional”, or maybe even “not leadership material” if you are vulnerable and human with your team. If anyone has said any of these things to you, then compassionate leadership is likely a place you should explore.
All the recent research points to the opposite. When a leader is a compassionate, authentic human, their teams perform better, and team members are more loyal to that leader and the cause.
Imagine what it will feel like when you have the strength of compassion and community with a strong team, proving how a compassionate leader can motivate and inspire!
Start with a free 45-minute introductory session, then get 6 more 50-minute sessions over 3 months for only $1350. Payment plans are available.
Developing your skills as a compassionate leader is an investment in yourself and your future.
Yes! I want to Lead with Compassion!How I help you develop your Compassionate Leadership Skills
Together, I will work with you on:
- Identifying your authentic core values and goals
- Deepening your self-awareness to understand your impact on others and acting in line with your values and goals
- Developing compassion and acceptance for others, which drives our ability to collaborate, be open to feedback, and continuous learning
- Honing in on how compassion opens you to having authentic, vulnerable conversations with your team in order to create psychological safety
Imagine...
...how good will it feel to be able to show up as an authentic and compassionate leader!
You will be able to:
- Maintain healthy relationships, act according to your values and goals, and know what sort of impact you are having on those around you
- Lead a thriving team that is surpassing goals and collaborating together
- Motivate and inspire through living and communicating authentically
- Lead a team that all works together co-creating great ideas and solutions
- Create an inclusive team that maintains psychological safety
The Offer:
Develop your Leading with Compassion Skills
Leading with Compassion is a skillset you can learn. Once you learn what it is and how to use it, you can continue to hone it over the course of your career, creating amazing teams wherever you go!
During our coaching sessions I will work with you to:
- Identify your core values
- Become self-aware or deepen your self-awareness
- Develop compassion and acceptance
- Overcome obstacles to having authentic, vulnerable conversations
- Build skills to incorporate psychological safety
Using various exercises and coaching conversations, we will work through developing your Leading with Compassion skills. We will discuss where you feel you need the most work and tailor the program to your specific needs.
Yes! I want to Lead with Compassion!Curious?
Book a 45-minute free consultation with me to learn more about how coaching can change your leadership journey.
Book your free consultation