Theories on leadership abound. Taking business classes or reading about leadership styles, we find the conventional choices to be defined as five key approaches: authoritarian; participative; delegating; transactional; transformational. Simply put, we are told that we have the option to choose to be autocratic, democratic, laissez-faire, managerial or visionary.
In and of themselves, each of these styles can get results. Each can succeed or fail in moving an organization forward. But, I believe that there is a better way to move people and to make things happen. And that is what I like to call leading with heart.
What I have come to understand after a career as a leader is that the most effective ways to move an organization, create change and drive growth is by leading with your heart, by genuinely caring about the people who work for you and with you.
When people know that they matter, that they are valued by their leaders and organization, they will strive to meet expectations, their productivity will increase, retention will improve and satisfaction will grow.
Leading with heart does not mean leading without discipline or structure. It does not mean that the work, and the environment are not demanding. It means, at the core, that we remember that people are what make things happen and that every human being wants to and needs to be valued.
Through this blog, I’ll be sharing the thought process behind leading with heart as well as ways in which you can implement these tools and techniques in your workforce.
I invite you, as we go forward, to open yourself to a more heart-centered leadership. I’d love to hear your experiences as well.
Put your heart first and see the difference it will make.
Leading with Head and Heart 