Cultivating Wise Compassion Leadership: A Necessity in Modern Leadership
Grant Ian Gamble is a best-selling mindful leadership author and speaker. He has over 30 years of experience in leading teams to create innovative customer experiences, building engaged workforces, and developing leaders who prioritize mindfulness in their approach.
I have been pondering on an article I recently came across in the Harvard Business Review, “Compassionate Leadership Is Necessary — but Not Sufficient,” written by Rasmus Hougaard, Jacqueline Carter, and Nick Hobson. I thought it could be of great interest to you as well.
As we navigate through turbulent times, the importance of compassionate leadership is more pronounced than ever. Yet, the authors reveal through their research that compassion on its own is not sufficient for effective leadership. Compassion must be paired with wisdom.
When examining more than 5,000 companies across nearly 100 countries, it was found that there is a strong correlation between the practice of “wise compassion” in leadership and promotability. In fact, leaders who regularly demonstrated both compassion and wisdom were found to rise faster and higher in the ranks than those who did not.
What does this look like in practice?
Compassionate leaders harbor positive intentions and genuine concern for others. This can forge stronger connections, foster trust, and boost loyalty. However, leadership is not just about being nice. It also involves making tough decisions, providing critical feedback, and sometimes disappointing people. Hence, wisdom, which encapsulates leadership competence and a deep understanding of managing people and priorities, is paramount. Striking a balance between compassion and wisdom is what creates a ‘wise compassionate leader.’
The authors have categorized leadership styles into four quadrants, with the second quadrant representing ‘wise compassion’. Leaders in this category effectively balance the concern for their people with the need to drive their organizations forward productively. They take tough actions when needed, but they do it with genuine care for people’s feelings and well-being.
Research involving over 15,000 leaders across nearly 100 countries reveals a strong correlation between higher levels of wise compassion and promotability. In essence, practicing wise compassion not only benefits others but also significantly enhances one’s leadership trajectory.
But how can one cultivate wise compassion?
Mindfulness routine is one proven method. Leaders who practice mindfulness regularly display increased self-awareness and an enhanced understanding of others’ behaviors and emotions. They are more intentional in integrating wisdom and compassion in their leadership style.
- For those who have ample wisdom but need to bolster their compassion, the authors suggest:
- Practicing self-compassion
- Regularly checking your intentions
- Adopting a daily compassion practice
- Alternatively, if you have a strong compassion quotient but seek to increase your wisdom, consider:
- Practicing candid transparency
- Engaging in at least one daily direct interaction
- Adopting a daily mindfulness training
In the face of continued challenges, a mindset of wise compassion is the most effective and humane way to support people. It allows us to make the tough calls in a human-centered manner.
I encourage you to explore how you can apply these principles in your leadership journey. Remember, we rise by lifting others and doing so in the wisest way possible makes the journey all the more rewarding.
Research shows that organizations with compassionate leaders experience lower levels of team member turnover. According to a 2020 study from Gallup, companies that scored in the top quartile on compassion had 37% lower absenteeism, 41% fewer safety incidents, and 59% less turnover. This underscores the importance of compassion in leadership for overall organizational health.
AFFINITY Podcast Episode 13 | The State of Organizations 2023: 10 Shifts Transforming Organizations
AFFINITY Podcast
Put PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS and watch your business flourish.
Dive deep into the latest trends in customer experience and team engagement, mindful leadership and management. Discover practical tools and strategies that you can use to build a people-centric culture, the foundation for sustainable long-term business growth and success.
Led by mindful leadership expert, Grant Ian Gamble, a best-selling author and true visionary with over 30 years of experience in leading teams to create innovative customer experiences, building engaged, inspired and fulfilled workforces, and developing leaders who prioritize genuine connection in their approach.
The guiding principle behind all of Grant’s work is PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS.
More Articles:
Team Member (aka Employee) Engagement
Team member (aka employee) engagement is crucial to the success of any business. It not only boosts productivity but also enhances team member satisfaction and reduces turnover. With the increasing importance of engagement in today’s workplace, it’s essential to focus on creating a people-centric company culture through mindful leadership and always putting people first.
What is team member engagement, and why is it important?
9 Trends Shaping the Workplace in 2023: How Leaders Can Become Employers of Choice in a Competitive Talent Landscape
The workplace landscape has shifted dramatically over the past two years. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced businesses to adapt to remote work and hybrid models, and team members have been feeling the effects of burnout more than ever before. In 2022, business leaders were faced with unprecedented challenges, and 2023 is no different. However, how organizations respond to these challenges could determine whether they become an employer of choice.
Overcoming Burnout and Building Resilience: Strategies to Help Prevent Burnout and Help You and Your Team Thrive in a Fast-Paced World
In this article, I’ll share some of the strategies and tools that I’ve used to help prevent burnout in myself and my team, and how you can apply them to your own leadership style.
Burnout is a pervasive issue that affects many people in today’s fast-paced world. It is a state of chronic stress that occurs when we experience prolonged periods of exhaustion, cynicism, and detachment from our work or personal lives. According to productivity expert Chris Bailey, burnout can be described as a “diminishing returns problem,” where we become less productive and efficient as we work longer and harder.
Fill out the form below and receive a PDF download of "6 Key Strategies to Engage Untapped Fitness and Wellness Market Segments"
Let's Connect!
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE, TEAM ENGAGEMENT & WORKPLACE WELL-BEING: AFFINITY OS™ | WELLNESS INTEGRATION | MINDFUL LEADERSHIP: "THE AFFINITY PRINCIPLE"
0475 866 592
The Affinity Principle™ by Grant Gamble presents a formula for business success through a people-centric, mindful leadership approach.
PEOPLE FIRST, ALWAYS.
