How To Be More Humane As A Leader

An eternal conundrum for business leaders is how to perform the harder duties that come with taking on the responsibility of leadership while striving to remain a good person. Many people think that a choice is made, between being humane or being a tough, effective leader.

However, being human and making hard leadership decisions are not mutually exclusive, and often, making the hard decisions is one of the most human things to do. With employees, particularly younger generations, more aware of social, cultural, and environmental issues, it’s important to exercise sustainable leadership with wisdom and compassion.

Compassionate leadership can be defined as a deep understanding of what motivates people and the courage to be transparent and to do what needs to be done, even when it is uncomfortable.

To achieve this, it is important to not be defined by job titles but to remember that we are all human beings and want to connect on a human level. We look at some ways to bring more humanity to your leadership.

Remember the Golden Rule. 

Compassion is a desire to see others happy, and a readiness to help make that happen. It can mean the consideration of another person’s point of view, which can allow for a fresh perspective on a challenging situation. However, avoid making the mistake of thinking you know exactly what the other is thinking.

Listen intently. 

When you try to listen to others, they feel seen and heard and appreciated. Listening with an open mind and a willingness to learn will help you become wiser and help you genuinely help others. Take time to prepare before any important meeting, and ensure you are present and intend to really hear and feel what the other person wants, rather than just find a fix for a problem.

Ask how you can be of benefit

Asking how you can be of benefit to others is a means to finding compassion. Take a moment to reflect on what someone might be going through, whether all going well in challenging times, and then ask yourself what support they might need, or a nudge to help them be more self-aware about their blind spots that have created difficulties.

If you’re looking for ILM leadership and management training, get in touch with Palladium Training today.