The power of Compassion in leadership
In today’s complex and fast-paced world, compassionate leadership serves as a transformative force, fostering exceptional performance, improved employee wellbeing, and more harmonious work environments. Compassionate leaders enhance job satisfaction, reduce stress by reframing challenges, and drive meaningful change across organisations. By demonstrating compassion and encouraging open, honest communication, these leaders create psychologically safe environments where team members feel empowered to share ideas, contributing to greater creativity and innovation.
But what do we mean by compassionate leadership? While compassion may come naturally to some, compassionate leadership is a skill that can be developed and nurtured at any stage of an individual’s career, from team leaders to senior executives. Leading with compassion involves cultivating a culture of empathy and kindness, actively listening to others’ perspectives, and motivating individuals to reach their full potential. Compassionate leaders inspire others through their own role modelling, creating inclusive, supportive, and effective workplaces.
As occupational psychologists, we understand that sustained compassion begins with self-compassion. Leaders must develop the skills to support their own psychological wellbeing and resilience to effectively care for and inspire those they lead. By fostering self-awareness and practising self-compassion, leaders can develop the confidence and capacity to role model the behaviours needed to create truly compassionate organisational cultures.
Whether in the public, private, or healthcare sectors, compassionate leadership empowers teams to thrive. It creates environments where people feel valued, connected, and supported, enabling organisations to achieve their goals while enhancing the wellbeing and resilience of their workforce. Through our evidence-based programmes, leaders learn how to lead with courage, compassion, and authenticity, creating lasting change for themselves, their teams, and their organisations.
Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme
Our Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme has been highly commended nationally for excellence in leadership development and is a six-month journey designed to equip leaders with resilience, confidence, and practical tools to navigate high-pressure environments while fostering their own wellbeing. This transformative programme empowers leaders to create inclusive organisational cultures by fostering an understanding of self-compassion as the foundation for compassionate leadership.
Designed by Dr Amanda Super, an expert in self-compassion and compassionate leadership development, this programme helps leaders develop the knowledge and behaviours required to lead with empathy, authenticity, and integrity. Participants gain a deep understanding of compassionate leadership theory while building actionable skills to role model these principles in their organisations.
Available online to managers, leaders, and senior executives, the programme blends coaching sessions, training webinars, reflective exercises, and action planning. Cohorts of up to five participants or one-to-one sessions ensure personalised support. Upon completion, commissioners receive a full evaluation report with insights into organisational themes to support strategic development.
To embed learning and drive long-term impact, participants can join Communities of Practice, supported by occupational psychologists. Evaluation data demonstrates significant improvements in self-compassion and mental wellbeing (p<0.001), with 98% of participants recommending the programme. Leaders also report improved ability to manage stress, support team wellbeing, and tackle workplace challenges more effectively.
Join the hundreds of leaders who have benefited from this award-winning programme and take the first step in building resilience, compassion, and inclusion in your workplace.
To view a summary of the Evaluation Study that was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the Compassionate Leadership Coaching Programme please have a look at the Infographic provided here:
Improving Leadership Skills and Health and Wellbeing with Compassion: An Infographic
For those looking to explore key leadership principles of compassion in a focused format, we also offer our Leading with Courage and Compassion Workshops. These workshops serve as an excellent complement to the full coaching programme.
Leading with Courage and Compassion Workshops
(Available Online or In-Person, Half-Day or Full-Day)
Our Leading with Courage and Compassion Workshops empower leaders to navigate challenges with confidence, empathy, and integrity. Designed for leaders across all sectors, these sessions focus on fostering the skills needed to create psychologically safe environments, make ethical decisions, and lead through uncertainty.
Workshops explore the interplay between courage, compassion, and self-compassion in leadership, blending evidence-based theory with practical tools and interactive exercises. Participants engage in group discussions, role-playing activities, and reflective practices to develop self-awareness, emotional resilience, and key leadership skills.
Tailored to the unique needs of leaders, these workshops encourage collaboration and peer learning, whether delivered online or in-person. Attendees leave with actionable strategies to inspire their teams, foster trust, and create meaningful outcomes in their organisations.
Facilitated by Dr Amanda Super, an expert in compassionate leadership with over twenty years of experience in the field, these workshops equip leaders to thrive in today’s complex environments.
Elevate your leadership and workplace through the power of courage, compassion, and self-compassion.
To read more about how our Leading with Courage and Compassion Workshops equip leaders with the confidence, resilience, and skills to navigate uncertainty and drive engagement, please have a look at the Infographic provided here:
Leading with Courage and Compassion – Developing Resilient and Effective Leaders: An Infographic
Contact us below to discuss how to unlock the transformative possibilities for your leaders with compassionate leadership development.
Testimonials
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)