Being in a leadership position is tough. You must achieve the organization’s goals, which is profit-making. But, you cannot forget the team that drives the success of the company.
Yet, managing employees is a tough balancing act. It requires not losing sight of the goals while motivating and creating the right work environment.
The reality is leadership styles come in different forms. There is that autocratic leader who brings to mind the schoolyard bully. It is his word or the highway.
For them, they are at the top and everyone else follows. We all know how that goes. Employees feel stuck in a rut, and lack room for creativity or expression. For such leaders, high turnover rates are almost a sure thing.
Then there is that leader who falls on the opposite spectrum. They have a laissez-faire attitude and give free rein. They seem to want to be on good terms with everyone. At first, it can seem like an ideal situation.
But, within a short time, the cracks will start to show. The teams will have no one to look up to. Chaos, lack of direction, and inefficiency can be the result.
There are many other types of leadership. But, one stands out. The heart-based leadership approach may very well be the style that will elevate your business to the next level. Let’s explore it a little more below.
Heart-Based Leadership; What Is It?
Ongoing leadership development training is critical when running an organization. It equips managers with tools to grow the business and manage staff.
Also, it helps to embrace new leadership approaches if your method is not working. One style that is gaining popularity is heart-based leadership. But what is it?
Well, heart-based leadership is basically leading with or from the heart. True, the definition sounds a little simplistic. But, that is really what it is.
Take five seconds to let the definition simmer. Ok, now let’s explore it together. If someone says, use your heart and not your brain, what does it mean?
It could be to remove the cold, analytical, reason-seeking part that is attributable to the brain. Instead, have empathy, sympathy, compassion, kindness, and caring.
Now, put all those attributes into a leader. What the employees see is a leader who-
- Cares about them
- Is willing to listen
- Understands their situation
- Is not only concerned with business development but about the teams
- Offers mentorship and direction without judgment, and so on.
Advantages of the Heart-Based Approach
There are many benefits to using the heart-based approach. The trick is in setting or establishing clear boundaries. At the end of the day, some people will take advantage of your kindness.
Signing up for executive coaching services can equip you with the necessary tools. Tools that will come in handy, if you want to try this leadership approach.
Now, let’s dive into some of the reasons why heart-based leadership works.
- Attract and Retain Talent
Do you know that, on average, a company spends over $4,000 to hire and onboard a new employee? Every time you lose a staff member, that is money out of your business.
True, it is not always possible to stop someone from leaving. But, some factors around leadership contribute to high turnover. These include:
- Bad bosses or leadership styles
- Lack of proper leadership or inspiration in the current roles
- When the employee feels the company doesn’t value them
The empathetic nature of heart-based leadership requires managers to walk in the employees’ shoes. How will they know where the shoe pinches if they don’t wear them?
- Better Collaboration and Room for Innovation
The open-door policy encourages communication and collaboration. The premise is employees should feel free to walk into any manager’s office and present their issues.
There are no limitations, in terms of chains of command and hierarchies. The heart-based approach can achieve the same, if not better. Employees can approach the leaders, without fear of reproach.
They can expect understanding, willingness, and caring management. If you manage to achieve this in your organization, you can expect better collaboration. The staff will also be more willing to listen to what you have to say.
And, it opens up avenues for innovation or fantastic ideas from everyone. There is no fear of rebuke or dismissal when you present ideas to management.
Some organizations are so hierarchical. A junior exec, for instance, can only communicate with the line manager. Many fantastic ideas have died because they never go further than the next in command.
- Good Work Environment
Have you ever walked into an office, and wondered what was going on? People seem unhappy or tense. No one looks up from their desktop or laptop screens. There is dead silence at all times. When the shift is over, everyone makes a beeline for the door.
Yet, outside of the office, the employees interact well. It is not uncommon for them to enjoy meals or outings together. Some bosses take on an almost militaristic style of running the office.
The employees’ life during work hours belongs to the company. Such rigid environments are a nightmare to be in.
But, a boss who leads from the heart realizes certain things. People need to interact and be happy. A good work environment enhances commitment and loyalty.
Final Thoughts
Heart-based leadership works because of one major factor. It places a greater emphasis on people, rather than making money. This is not to say that profitability does not matter. Of course, it does because it is a sign of great leadership.
But, happy employees who feel management cares for them are more productive. They are also less likely to want to leave the organization. The same argument applies to having a good work environment where collaboration and innovation are welcome.
Is it simple for a manager who has been using other leadership approaches to change overnight? The answer is no. That is why it is a good idea to sign up for leadership development training courses.
Executive coaching offers personal growth development opportunities for those in leadership positions. Take advantage of such to unlock your full leadership potential.