Compassionate leadership is one of the watch words we are always mindful of here at Technalink. It’s a practice we carry out every day in our own company, and it’s something we try to encourage other businesses to maintain in their own daily activities. Without compassionate leadership, it’s very difficult to nurture an atmosphere with happy, productive, fulfilled employees and management.
And in that sense, one of the things that a leader can be to his or her employees is a parent. This does not necessarily mean that you, as a leader and manager take a close interest in the personal lives of those you work with. But it does mean you stop and think about your employees, and the fact that some of them may be starting their careers here, at your company. In a way, everything you do, say to them, and impart to them is just like a parent teaching a child about the world.
You Are An Influence
This means that every day, quite likely for many of your employees, they watch what you say, observe what you do, and absorb all this as lessons on how to grow in their career, and inform their understanding of what it means to run a business. So, like a parent with a child, you must ask yourself, what example are you setting for your employees? What kind of professionals would you like them to grow into as they mature in their career? And are you taking any steps to help them to grow in these directions?
If you’re already a parent, then you know that you have hopes and dreams for how you want your child to turn out. No caring parent deliberately sets out to turn their child into a bully, an anti-social miscreant, a pathological liar, or a thief. Everyone wants children that grow up to be productive, respected members of our society.
In the same way, as the leader of a company, you carry some of that same responsibility with regards to your employees. You can create a model workforce, through respect, communication and a willingness to work hard, and confront difficult situations head on to conclusively resolve them. The end result of your leadership results in valuable employees that lift up your company, grow as professionals, and may, in time, come to use your example as they become leaders themselves should they start their own business.
Take An Active Interest
If you really want to bring compassionate leadership into your business, take a professional interest in the development of your employees. Show them that excellence is something that starts at the leadership level and can—and should—spread through the entire company, to every person that works there. Encourage them to take pride in doing the right thing for themselves, for each other, and for the product or service you provide. Acknowledge their achievements, knowing that you are helping to groom a new generation of professionals that can increase the number of people in the working world that can practice and share the benefits of a compassionate leadership.
Always remember that in any successful business, it is never the work of one single person. Even a person in a leadership position must have the respect and loyalty of the employees if those employees are to remain motivated enough to produce quality results. Be both a leader and a “professional parent” to your employees. Imagine what kind of values and professional qualities you want them to have and grow into, and take the steps to ensure your working environment allows that happen. It doesn’t just benefit you, it benefits the future of business in America.
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