The decisions leaders make now will determine the future of our generation yet there is no definitive guidebook on how they should respond to the crisis caused by COVID-19.
More than ever, we look up to our leaders who are also struggling to find the balance between acting with certainty and masking their own fears, whether from the government or from businesses, to give us some guidance and reassurance of stability and security.
It is a tall order but there are several ways to manifest great leadership — and compassionate leadership should be the lens at which we should measure our leaders.
Compassion, displayed explicitly, was once viewed as a weakness for leaders but at a time of a crisis, we expect leaders to act with an abundant sense of care, respect, and understanding of our unique situations.
Compassion in leadership demands a different dimension from traditional leadership but it is increasingly becoming a business imperative as evidenced by several studies proving that organisations with engaged employees are more productive and have lower turnovers.
We have seen amazing responses from business leaders from companies such as the ADB tripling its response package to US$20 billion to help Asia Pacific deliver quicker and more flexible assistance while keeping their own people fully employed and working from home and San Miguel Corporation donating PHP878 million (US$17 million) to solidify efforts to help medical front-liners and support the severely affected communities, all while also helping produce disinfectant alcohols from their own Ginebra San Miguel facilities.
Also Read: Leadership through a pandemic: A heartfelt note from one entrepreneur to another
These are just some of the exemplary examples of effective responses to the ongoing war on COVID-19 and we are here to help break down what compassionate leadership looks like.
What defines compassionate leadership?
- Empathy
Having the intention to see as others see and feel as others feel is the first step. It is different from being sympathetic but rather stretches it by practising empathy by trying to feel what the other person is really feeling however uncomfortable.
This crisis has brought about many unforeseen tragedies to our lives and to our economy and it is unimaginable to see people lose their loved ones while having to worry about how to live off of a cancelled paycheck because of the shutdown.
We need compassionate leaders to find it in their hearts to try to feel what this means for their people so that they can prepare themselves to listen and chart out an authentic response.
- Understanding through conscious listening
Too many times, our biases hinder us from listening with mindfulness and we form our own judgments and provide solutions based on our experience but this is a behaviour that could even aggravate a situation. Compassionate leaders will try to listen, validate and acknowledge to fully understand the true feeling of their people.
Some organisations we have spoken to have rolled out pulse surveys to collect suggestions, feedback, and concerns of their people in this delicate time to help them understand their situation and come up with ideas to keep the people engaged – and ultimately, secure.
Leaders are not always required to act based on people’s suggestions but it helps to understand the sentiments on the ground to make a sound decision rooted in compassion.
- Championing the company culture and values
Compassionate leaders should always be at the forefront of championing their culture and values to inch closer to their “north star,” no matter the situation.
Most companies are geared towards improving communities, environmental stewardship, or creating more economic opportunities – to be a compassionate leader means stewarding your people to support your mission by being the first one to demonstrate the embodiment of your core values.
Also Read: 3 leadership lessons for women in tech
Several amazing leaders stepped up to heed the global outcry of anxious citizens and employees, and the world should take note of the swift, decisive and clear responses of some of these leaders like President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan, Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, and LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, to fight the spread of the virus and give people the hope needed to stay positive in this challenging season.
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Originally published on Workbean.
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