The power of Compassion in leadership
In today’s competitive and fast-paced world, compassionate leadership can be used as a transformative force for exceptional performance, enhanced employee wellbeing and a harmonious work environment. Compassionate leaders improve job satisfaction among their reports, reduce stress by assessing challenging situations in more positive ways and drive positive change across an organisation. Leaders who demonstrate compassion and encourage open and honest communication, create psychologically safe environments where team members can voice ideas which contribute to the creativity and innovation of their teams.
So, what do we mean by compassionate leadership? While some individuals may possess innate qualities of compassion, compassionate leadership can be developed and nurtured at any stage of the individual’s career, whether a team leader or an executive director. Leading with compassion involves cultivating a culture of empathy and kindness, actively listening to team members and their perspectives and motivating individuals to reach their full potential. By their own role modelling of compassionate approaches, compassionate leaders inspire others to follow suit in creating truly inclusive, supportive and effective work environments.
As occupational psychologists, we know that showing sustained and genuine compassion for others, starts with leaders being able to enact self-compassion and self-care for themselves. Leaders and managers require a skill set which enables them to not only care for, support and develop those they lead, but also maintain their own psychological wellbeing and resilience.
In the public and healthcare sectors, such as the NHS, compassionate leadership is especially crucial. Compassionate leaders in healthcare settings prioritise patient-centred care and promote a caring environment for both patients and healthcare professionals, resulting in better patient outcomes and reduced burnout amongst staff members.
Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme
Our eight-week ‘Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme’ builds the resilience and confidence of leaders to positively manage a high-pressure working environment and stay well at work. The programme supports the creation of a compassionate and inclusive organisational culture through the impact and effectiveness of its leaders.
Designed by Dr Amanda Super, an expert in the field of compassion and self-compassion, the programme develops leaders’ understanding of the theory and practice of compassionate leadership. It also teaches the practice of self-compassion as the foundation for their development of compassionate leadership behaviours.
Available online to managers, leaders and senior executives at all levels, participants leave able to enact and role model self-compassion and compassionate leadership practices in their workplace.
Consisting of facilitated coaching sessions, training webinars, practical tasks, reflective practice, action planning and podcasts, the programme can be delivered in small groups of up to five participants per cohort or one to one with our expert facilitators. Upon completion a full evaluation of programme is undertaken and insights are provided to the commissioning organisation of any key organisational themes which could support their organisational development strategy. Additionally, ‘Communities of Practice’ are created which are supported by our occupational psychologists to embed the learning back in the workplace.
Creating Compassion has delivered this programme with hundreds of leaders across many organisations who have seen the benefits. This is what one participant had to say:
“The best takeaway for me was that I can role model compassionate leadership by focusing on all my interactions/conversations in the workplace – this was a revelation for me.”
For organisations and individuals who are still not sure whether this is the right approach for their workplace, we also offer our three hour ‘Introduction to Compassionate Leadership Workshop’ which gives a cost-effective taster of the areas covered in our eight-week Compassionate Leadership Coaching programme.
Introduction to Compassionate Leadership Workshop
Our three-hour online workshop equips up to 12 attendees with the essential skills and knowledge to start cultivating a compassionate leadership style within their organisation. Organisations use the workshop to support their strategic aims to develop effective leadership at all levels.
Through interactive sessions, facilitated discussion, case studies and practical exercises, participants explore the theory, research and techniques that foster compassionate leadership, including the building of compassionate cultures. A range of tools helps participants embed a compassionate approach to their interactions with different stakeholders including for example, role modelling good practice in using compassion for challenging conversations.
The workshop also emphasises the value of adopting self-compassion by leaders. It introduces the three core components of self-compassion, their application in the workplace and highlights the significance of self-care and reflection in maintaining an empathetic and supportive leadership style.
Leaders are helped to make the connection from their own personal practice of self-compassion to their leadership role and interactively discuss the challenges of achieving this at work along with ways to overcome these barriers.
We fully evaluate our programmes after completion with feedback forms completed by participants.
This is just one testimonial from a participant:
“This workshop gave me a really informative introduction to self-compassion and compassionate leadership. This will enable me to have a different approach to more challenging conversations with my team and enable me to listen, empathise and act in a more compassionate manner.”
Contact us below to discuss how to unlock the transformative possibilities for your leaders with compassionate leadership development.
Testimonials
Creating Compassion has delivered a number of Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programmes within our organisation. The feedback from attendees has been extremely positive, with those completing the programme inspired to engage in a community of practice. We are very much looking forward to continue working with Creating Compassion to further support our workforce in leading with compassion.
Ruth Heggie (Head of Organisational Development, Learning and Culture)
In the current climate we work in these days, it is very important to think of having compassion for yourself as well, since so much is asked of us in relation to colleagues and our patients, it’s very easy to forget about our own wellbeing. The Self-Compassion at Work Programme has taught me to be kinder to myself.
Rosemary Okeke (Matron)
Working with Amanda on the Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme was one of the most personally developmental programmes I have engaged with in a very long time.
Lisa Gresty (Assistant Director of Organisational Development)
The Self-Compassion at Work Programme was very inspiring and gave guided practices and practical tips about how to implement self-compassion into your everyday life - even with a busy schedule! It also opened my eyes to how critical and negative I was towards myself and started me on the journey towards a more content and happier self, which will make me a better professional too.
Lucy Rowe (Organisational Development Practitioner)
The benefit I gained from the coaching sessions and exercises on the Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme made a huge difference to my life and work. Eight months on from starting, I am able to manage my stress levels to ensure I am balanced and happy at work and home.
Lee Bushell (Head of Capital Projects)
The Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme has given me the confidence and permission to be a compassionate leader when working with my direct reports and peers. It has been one of the best courses I have been on and has really changed me.
Rachel Bold (Department Manager)
I would definitely recommend the Self-Compassion at Work Programme. I think this should be offered to everyone as part of an organisation’s responsibility for employee welfare and wellbeing. I think it could be used within team supervision to create a more caring atmosphere in my place of work and should form part of appraisals.
Charlie Jones-Taylor (Department Manager)
The Compassionate Leadership Coaching programme taught me so much that I thought I knew, but actually didn’t! Using the practices that Amanda taught me, I am certainly a more compassionate leader and will never again fail to consider others and my emotions when dealing with difficult workplace scenarios.
Ian Wright (Associate Director, Estates and Facilities Management)
The Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme enabled me to take time out and focus on my own resilience; developed my coping mechanisms in challenging situations; and, as a consequence, be able to do the same for others.
Helen Curtis (Deputy Accountable Officer and Director of Quality and Performance)
Having attended the Self-Compassion at Work Programme I found the webinars very accessible and a good method to deliver this programme. I have found the tools and techniques have made a really big difference to me both at work and at home in terms of how I relate to myself and those around me.
Stephen Jenkins (Senior Engineer)
I would highly recommend the Self-Compassion at Work Programme. It has been valuable and has provided some useful tools. The format of this course was very flexible and worked well with having a young family.
Mohammed Khan (Project Manager)
Amanda’s Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme combined a wealth of Compassion Focused Therapy and Self-compassion research into simple theory webinars and practical, easy to follow exercises. Amanda embodies self-compassion; coaching and inspiring participants to develop their own personalised regular practice. The impact for me has been an enduring practice that has helped me to thrive and maintain my mental wellbeing through very turbulent times.
Jean Ellis (Programme Manager)
Having completed the Self-Compassion at Work Programme, I found the four modules easy to access and concise and the content is user friendly, both personally and in terms of sharing the ideas presented with clients. I think this programme is necessary as part of a whole organisation approach to embedding compassion for self and others.
D. Joyce (CBT and EMDR Therapist -Accredited)
In terms of the Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme, the feedback has been so positive. Not only the evidenced increase in the participants’ Self-Compassion and Mental Wellbeing, but their personal feedback relating to the difference it has made for them is inspiring.
Ruth Barker (Head of HR)
All the material on the Self-Compassion at Work Programme was very useful, and I was able to apply the knowledge straight away into my work and practice.
Mark James (Doctor)
The Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme gave me a range of self-compassion techniques to use both in work and my personal life, that I continue to use to this day. I would highly recommend this programme if you are seeking personal development and practical tools that you can use in a range of situations.
Safia Barber (Head of Research, Development and Innovation)