๐๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป plays a crucial role in fostering a productive, positive workplace. Yet, the overuse of compassion or its timing can cause more problems than it fixes.
Today, I focus on the positives. As you read this, and find several points obvious, challenge yourself honestly: could you do more to optimise this benefit? This set of positives lays the foundations for tomorrowโs โchapterโ in which the tangible benefits to the organisation are discussed.
๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป are promoted naturally in a compassionate culture. This is not only about equality, but also the benefit of having all staff feel they are included โ in news, changes, results, and where appropriate in decision-making. Todayโs best leaders can engage constructively with diverse groups of people. If a broader range of stakeholders are involved, the inclusive nature of a business is enhanced.
Compassionate leadership significantly impacts ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป. A study by EY revealed that 90% of workers believe empathetic leadership leads to higher job satisfaction and reduces employee turnover. Workplace cultures that achieve high levels of employee satisfaction have been linked to a reduced burnout and more than a 12% increase in productivity.
Linked to this is ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐. Compassion increases engagement in the organisation, so there are more team players, and staff are keen to follow their respective leader/manager.
Staff develop quicker and more in line with the organisation's needs where there is compassionate leadership. They have a greater ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น, creating a virtuous circle. By focusing on what drives their people, leaders can create a purpose that truly motivates them - compassion is needed to get that understanding.
We are scared of being wrong. Worse, being made to feel silly for being wrong. So, ๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป is directly linked to compassionate leadership. Diverse perspectives are gained, and staff will readily volunteer ideas. A study found that 61% of employees with compassionate leaders regard their company as more innovative.
A more caring, compassionate leader significantly builds ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐น๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฑ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐๐. There is naturally more trust within the teams, and this is powerful with staff being less afraid of speaking up. Leaders who show compassion can help rebuild in new and effective ways, and employees readily support them.
Creating a compassionate work culture over a stress-driven one leads to happier workplaces and indirectly an improved bottom line. Positive social interactions at work have been shown to boost employee health and enhance their commitment and engagement with their job. This means less lost time to absence plus staff actually enjoying their time at work.
Tomorrow, how all this translates into benefits for your organisation.
I try to meet with, virtually or in person, lots of my business and coaching contacts, and I find this an effective way of keeping up to date with the latest relevant issues. It also helps to ‘ground’ me and encourage me to check in with my own work and approach. Along the way I have lots of discussions about leadership which inevitably entails wildly differing views and opinions.
Out of the proliferation of remote work during and after COVID, a new challenge for organisations has emerged: many important skills are not easily, or cannot be, nurtured through screens. In the traditional office environment, the subtle yet powerful process of learning osmotically plays a critical role. Leaders model behaviours, and employees, often subconsciously, absorb crucial skills such as adaptability, emotional intelligence, and intuitive decision-making. Even resilience can be enhanced through witnessing other people’s coping mechanisms.
Reflecting on what I feel makes a leader truly great, I realise that leadership is generally misunderstood. It should not be about rank or authority;