Are You a Human Centred Leader?

As a human centred leader, your focus is on understanding and meeting the needs of the people you work with. You value empathy, compassion, collaboration, and communication. You strive to create an environment of trust and respect. Human centred leaders are open to feedback and input from their peers, colleagues and employees. They are willing to take risks and think outside the box to find solutions. They operate under a leadership style that seeks to understand the full scope of their team’s needs and challenges, and develop creative strategies to solve them.

Effective leaders are focused on fostering an environment of growth and leadership development for their team members. They provide access to resources that enable learning and experimentation in facilitation of that growth.

They recognize the importance of self-care and well-being, and they understand that when their team is healthy, it is more productive. Empathy is one of their greatest leadership skills. They are able to put themselves in the shoes of their team members and show compassion for their struggles. They strive to create a positive work environment where employees feel safe, respected, and empowered.

Cultivate Self-Awareness

A successful human centred leader must cultivate their own self-awareness. They need to be aware of their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the emotional needs of those around them. By understanding themselves, they can better connect with the people they are leading. Self-awareness enables leaders to respond effectively to challenging situations and understand how their words and actions influence their team.

Assessment and profiling can reveal valuable insights about an individual’s personality, including strengths and blind spots. Senior leaders should use this information to identify opportunities for improvement and incorporate them into their leadership development.

Leaders who practise self awareness and openly hold themselves accountable for their actions, are able to overcome challenges with greater success. They do not pretend to hold all the answers and so, they more readily seek and accept the help of others.

Encourage Collaboration

Effective leaders understand the need for building collaboration skills within their team. They recognise the power of different perspectives and strive to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable contributing their ideas.

Leaders need to actively seek out opportunities for collaboration, whether it’s during brainstorming sessions or inter-departmental planning meetings. They should also ensure that team members are empowered to take initiative on projects and engage with other departments to move forward.

One of the most important leadership skills is the ability to recognise when different perspectives are needed and how best to foster collaboration. Strong leaders must be able to identify potential tensions between team members and provide support during difficult conversations.

Leadership assessment tools can be useful in determining a leadership style that is best suited to an individual’s personality and skill set. Such tools can help emerging and senior leaders understand how their behaviour affects their teams, as well as identify areas for improvement.

Human centred leadership requires a commitment to understanding how emotions and perceptions shape workplace dynamics. Leaders who practise self-awareness and open dialogue, while encouraging collaboration, will ultimately be more successful in leading their teams. By developing leadership skills and equipping themselves with the necessary tools, they can create an environment of trust, respect and collaboration within their organisation.

If you want to learn more about human centred leadership and how The Leadership Sphere can help you to develop your leadership skills, contact us today. We offer a range of services, including executive coaching, team development, and leadership development training. We can help you to create a more positive work environment and to develop the skills you need to be a successful leader.