How to lead with courage and compassion

"Leadership requires courage and compassion."

By Catherine Wijnberg

Times of crisis call for high levels of leadership courage, the ability to stay the course, make sound and often difficult decisions under pressure. The ability to manage in a crisis often makes the difference between businesses that last, and those that don’t.

Yet in our rapidly changing world, where so many people are reeling with anxieties and discontent, leaders are also being asked to raise their potential for compassion.

In the workplace, this translates into hearing and responding to calls for different working arrangements – hybrid, work from home and flexitime. Businesses are also being asked to respond to increased cost of living with financial support – in the form of salary increases, travel subsidies, mental health support and as a result of the lingering effects of Covid, significantly higher sick-leave costs.

Leaders who are adept at courageous leadership – the ability to cut through emotions and take charge in difficult, pressurised situations are finding themselves stretched into a simultaneous need for compassionate leadership.

Balancing both sides of this coin takes self-awareness and skill and can be especially challenging when under pressure. These four guidelines are designed to help:

Leadership compassion starts with compassion for yourself. Acknowledge when you are under pressure, reach out for support from a mentor, psychologist or wise friend. Raise your energy field with a daily practice of self-love.
Compassion for others starts with listening to and acknowledging Set aside focus time to connect personally your staff and listen to the challenges they are experiencing. Put yourself in their shoes.
Leadership courage requires us to act on this input by actively seeking ways to respond – respecting their needs, discussing and co-creating solutions.
Great leadership courage also means acknowledging when you are wrong or have missed a cue for compassion and making amends. Face-to-face meetings to resolve conflict will require a genuine desire for resolution and compassionate negotiation skills.

Leadership is a balancing act of both sides of the compassion and courage coin. By starting each day with an acknowledgement of our courage and nurturing ourselves with compassion and love will increase our ability to show this to others.