We are surrounded by fear-based motivation. Marketers create a fear of missing out. Politicians promise disaster if they don’t win. Many organizational leaders use this approach, too. But fear is not our only motivator. To promote flourishing, leaders need to create psychological safety, encourage creative exploration, and respond with an attitude that treats failure as a learning opportunity.
In surveys of participants in our Compassionate Leadership and Resilience Training program, the number one hurdle to leading more compassionately is shown to be “excess demands on my time.” Where will more time come from to learn to lead compassionately? The process for growing compassion is different from that for growing other skills. You can start growing your compassion today.
We are living through a time when everything is in upheaval. As we move forward into a new era, we have an exceptional opportunity to put the pieces together in a way that will lead to a safer, more just, more sustainable world. Is that possible? Yes! Compassionate action, catalyzed and led by compassionate leaders and organizations can play a central role in creating a more humane global society.
Compassionate leadership can be found in many settings, some expected and some surprising. Three recent events within the NBA show that compassion can be practiced even within hyper-competitive environments. Here are three recent examples that display traits of compassionate leadership: awareness, empathy, collaboration, and the promotion of diverse teams.
Although our brains desire certainty, we live in a highly uncertain world. This can lead to over-controlling behaviors. By letting go of these behaviors, leaders can unleash powerful innovation and energy within their teams and improve team performance. Here are three principles to help you let go of control in order to lead more effectively.
