If you have been following our blogs, (and I hope you have), then you will know we do our best to keep abreast of changes which we then share with you.
One of the key topics that has surfaced is, what can leaders do to adapt to this world, for the benefit of their organisations and their people in the midst of change and crisis?
I asked a few employees and two key attributes emerged. Trust and Compassion. If you look closely, these attributes fit so well together.
During my career, I had the privilege of being under the care of some amazing leaders. One in particular made a huge impact on my life as our relationship was based on trust because of the care and kindness that she displayed, to our entire team. It is twelve years later, and I still have a relationship with this awesome individual who will unhesitatingly take a call from me at any time. She partnered with each team member; we had continuous engagements; she could pick up when something was wrong and would let us know that she was there should we need her. All six members of our team knew she had our backs and we did everything we could to support her and make her shine. How many of you have a similar story?
Today we will focus on the compassionate leader.
Compassion:
A leader who shows compassion will bring out the best in their staff. They display kindness which talks to leading with compassion. They are aware that their staff are under their care. They do not have big egos, but proudly acknowledge that they are there to serve their staff. Robert K Greenleaf (refer to our blog on Servant Leadership), talks about the servant leader; the compassionate leader, whose number one priority is to serve the people who are under their care. So, do you serve the people who look up to you for support, guidance, and development? In our blog on Performance Management, we highlight the importance of continuous engagement with your team – putting on the hats of the enabler, coach and partner. A compassionate leader displays all of these qualities which in turn leads to loyal, committed and hardworking employees.
Especially now, during the Covid-19 pandemic, employees are on an emotional rollercoaster juggling finances, home-schooling, ensuring that their loved ones are safe and, on top of that, suffering from digital fatigue. A compassionate leader is aware of this and will, through their words, actions and tone of voice, think about the needs of their employees and be there for them. It is these employees who will go out of their way to deliver irrespective of the circumstances, shining for their leaders and themselves.
As a leader, will your employees stand up confidently and say, “My leader has my back”?
When our change management specialists conduct employee engagement surveys and change impact assessment, a key theme that often emerges is poor leadership due to leaders treating their employees as robots, which often results in a lack of trust. As a servant leader, you need to create an environment where your employees can thrive. When key components like compassion and empathy are missing, you can forget about having loyal, committed and motivated employees. This affects the bottom line and leadership skills are questioned. Ask yourself, “How are my employees doing under my care?” If you find your response is lacking because your employees are not growing, developing, thriving and becoming better versions of themselves, then it is time for you to self-reflect.
Our coaching team is here to assist you unlock your personal mastery, creating the opportunity for you to make an impact on yourself and influence those around you. Contact us at info@growthinmotion.co.za so that we can help you unleash that compassionate leader who is lying in wait.