A Leader's Permission to Be Human

LEAD|July 1, 2020

By: D.C. Alves M.Ed., Chief Leadership Officer, ExuLAB

We are entering a new phase of executive learning and leadership development- a new frontier...a new evolution, I believe, of human beings... as a species. Leadership is evolving past the finite limits of fiscal reward. Leadership is calling us to be more, to be brighter- to expand.

This expansion requires a new thinking and being regarding what it means to lead. Leaders have a tremendous amount of power in their organizations and our world. With this power comes a poignant responsibility. Leaders are stewards, caretakers and givers, nurturers, sowers and growers of possibility and opportunity within their sphere of influence. Have you ever really thought of leadership in this way?     

Think for a moment-  it is not a platitude but a purpose.

The next evolution of leadership calls us to use our power to help guide, develop, encourage, uplift, coach, educate... and propel the human spirit---forward. Our duty is to go beyond mere management, operations, analytics, systems and financial growth goals but to pivot toward a new frontier- of the spirit. How can we as leaders harness our power to make the lives of the people in our care---the world at large- better?

The best and most successful leaders that I have had the honor of working with are explorers to this new land- this new frontier. They are a small but mighty group- the original voyagers to a new world- to a new way- a better way. The reason for their success? Empathy. Real empathy- that is born from the heart, nurtured by the mind and the soul, and activated by the spirit- that core driver in all of us that makes us uniquely and beautifully human- the essence of our expansion as well as evolution.

We are hearing so much about empathy these days. What is it? What really is this ethereal ability?

I teach in our course on Empathy Development for Executive Leaders that real empathy is an ability to mutually understand and share in feelings- it’s our standardized definition to crystal clarify its meaning and operate from a common universal understanding which is vital for building forward. It provides a very strong foundation. But that is only the beginning of our discovery. 

Our next frontier as leaders will require us to lead from this place of mutuality. Our next frontier as leaders will require us to see our mission with different eyes- eyes that are open to the potential for development that exists within each person. Our next frontier as leaders will require us to use our power in a new vibrant way- as a force for good... even when it seems impossible- led by the priceless currency of--- the heart.