I have been thinking about compassion for some time and woke up with this idea of a 2*2 compassion * skill matrix :) I have seen compassionate leaders. I have seen delivery focused skilful leaders. Very rarely have I seen leaders who demonstrate both management skills and compassion.. Compassion is also a skill but we rarely view it that way. I have personally developed more compassion in the last few years consciously by practicing mindfulness. It's a very important one especially for a leader. A compassionate leader creates an environment that is safe and supported, and contributes directly to the well-being of many individuals ( immediate team, wider team, spouses, kids..)..It is not an optional skill! A skilful leader gives meaning, growth and stability for the future. There is a tendency for businesses to bias towards one or the other. In a high performance environment, I have heard people say things like " Person X doesn't care or trust his/her/their team but he/she/they are super smart and deliver to high standards (read at all cost)". In a stagnant environment, people say " Person X doesn't know much about what his/her/their team does but they all love him/her/them" .
It's magical to be led by a leader who has both skill and compassion. I took a stab at recreating the BCG growth matrix to demonstrate this. If you are a leader who is looking to develop compassion, there are ways to do this. It's a powerful skill especially in the post-covid era. Reflective practices such as mindfulness, coaching, volunteering, feedback and open conversations are just some of the many options
