Becoming a More Humane Leader
Or more Enlightened?
I was recently sent a Harvard Business Review article that presented research to prove the obvious –– wise and compassionate leaders have more productive employees. Maybe not obvious? It’s worth reminding ourselves what style of leadership is most effective for delivering better results.
The authors describe the wise and compassionate humane leader as a better alternative than the tough, impersonal leader who is entirely focused on management direction and control to pursue organisational goals. But that stereotype has long ago been discarded by intelligent, enlightened managers, entrepreneurs, and organisation leaders who have learned a better approach. Effective leadership requires understanding employee needs and providing the support and development necessary for them to work toward achieving the organisation’s goals.
Effective leadership requires more than the suggestion to remember the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you, which is now considered insufficient for good management as it assumes that others want what you would want. Modern management applies the more effective Platinum Rule: Do unto others as they would have you do unto them. Let them tell you what they want to succeed, and listen carefully. Then apply the wisdom you acquire with the compassion you’ve already shown and you too will have happier, more engaged and productive employees.
Hard decisions will still have to be made, but you will not have to give up your humanity to implement them effectively.
Be better. Do better.
Del Chatterson, Your Uncle Ralph
Learn more about Enlightened Entrepreneurship at: LearningEntrepreneurship.com Read more of Uncle Ralph's advice for Entrepreneurs in Don't Do It the Hard Way & The Complete Do-It-Yourself Guide to Business Plans - 2020 Editions.
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