The Benefits of Human Centred Leadership

Human centred leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on the needs of people, rather than profits or other measures of success. For an organisation to experience long-term growth, everyone must work together effectively. Prioritising the well-being of team members is essential to being an effective leader.

When it comes to developing leaders, organisations often focus on task-oriented training. However, this type of training neglects the people skills that are essential for being an effective leader. People skills are just as important as task-oriented skills, and should be given equal attention in leadership development coaching.

4 Ways Human Centred Leadership Benefits Organisations

Job Satisfaction

In recent years there has been a steady increase in the desire for fulfilling and personally gratifying work. People want to feel as though the work they do has a meaningful impact both for themselves and in the world. When it comes to creating a human centred workplace, developing leaders is key to success. Leaders who focus on the satisfaction and enrichment of their team members are more likely to create a workplace where people feel motivated and engaged. Not only does this lead to increased productivity, but it also reduces staff turnover rates.

“Leaders who take a human centred approach to leadership development are more likely to create organisations that are democratic and inclusive, and that respect the rights of all people.”

Builds Psychological Safety

Fostering psychological safety is one of the most important leadership skills needed in human centred cultures. By establishing trust and mutual respect, coaches can help create an environment where team members feel comfortable taking risks and sharing new ideas. Leadership development coaching can help build psychological safety by providing a space for employees to share their thoughts and feelings openly. This open communication can help break down silos within the organisation and encourage creativity and innovation.

Improves Decision Making

Organisations are only as good as the decisions that their leaders make. Good decision making requires effective problem solving and critical thinking skills. Leaders who focus on the needs of their team members are more likely to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organisation as a whole. This is because they are able to see the potential impact of each decision on the people within the organisation.

Developing leaders requires a human centred approach. This means that the focus is on understanding and meeting the needs of individuals, rather than applying the same methods to everyone. A senior leader needs to be able to relate to people at all levels, and this can only be done by taking a human centred approach.

To ensure that their organisation meets the needs of the community they serve, Down Syndrome Victoria established an Advisory Network that includes several members with Down syndrome. Their mission is to be advocates for others with Down syndrome. Having courageous and authentic conversations is an important part of the way Down Syndrome Victoria operate at every level of their organisation and together with TLS, we have an opportunity to continue this journey by working together and further enhancing the quality of the internal and external voice of the organisation.

When leaders take a human centred approach to leadership development, they are more likely to engage in practices that are ethical and sustainable. Leaders who take a human centred approach to leadership development are more likely to create organisations that are democratic and inclusive, and that respect the rights of all people.

About the Author: The Leadership Sphere

The Leadership Sphere helps small to large organisations in Australia, in creating value through leadership. The Leadership Sphere provides a humanistic approach to the way it delivers leadership, performance and executive coaching services. We work with leaders and senior teams who need to gain increased clarity, build capability and ensure contribution at every level in the organisation, and enable a safe, inclusive and  high trust organisation.