Leading with compassion is something you can start today, right now even, and see immediate results in what you can get making the most from your employees or your team. At Technalink, we believe that the compassionate leader is the leader that will help others to thrive while working towards a larger goal, and there are a few things you can do to get on the path of soulful leadership today. 4 ways to become a compassionate leader today are:
1. Understand them – Who doesn’t want to be understood? Listening to employees, and really listening to them, helps you to figure out what makes them tick, and in turn, what inspires them, brings them down, and what skills they really have to offer that they may not realize they possess. Taking the time to understand your team is a great way to become a compassionate leader, and it’s one that will help you to see near-immediate results.
2. Accept responsibility for problems – When a problem occurs, or there is a bump in the road with a project, look within before looking outward. Rather than placing the blame on your employees or other members of your team, think about what you could have done differently to avoid the problem and subsequent problems in the future. Ask yourself if you’ve inspired those around you, if you could have communicated better, or if you can do something else in the future to make things go more smoothly. This inward reflection and honestly will not only help to make your team want to work harder next time, but it’s an excellent method of self-growth as well.
3. Meditate away the anger – Sometimes bumps in the road occur that will make you angry, but the compassionate leader can use meditation to channel away this anger in order to make room for ideas, inspiration, and clarity instead. When things get stressful, lashing out on your team will inevitably cause hardships with employees and damage your own health, and it can be cleared away via mindful mediation. When the stress levels start boiling up, take a few minutes of quiet time, repeat your mantra, and feel the stresses melt away in order to make room for the clarity you need.
4. Accept ideas – New ideas are necessary for innovation and growth, and while it may be difficult to accept new ideas at times, they should always be welcome. During a brainstorming session, for instance, rather than shooting down an idea that won’t work and making the person feel inferior, talk about the aspects of the idea that could be valuable, and ask them to expand on those aspects instead. Rather than saying something is wrong, focus on what is right and be creative with that.
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