The Challenges of Human Centred Leadership and How to Overcome Them

Today’s organisations face many challenges, but one of the most significant is how to create a human centred leadership culture. In a world where technology is rapidly changing the way we live and work, it’s more important than ever for leaders to focus on the people they lead.

However, this can be easier said than done. Human centred leadership can be tough to achieve, especially in traditional organisations. Here are some of the biggest challenges you’ll face, and how to overcome them.

Changing the Way People Think About Leadership

One of the biggest challenges organisations face is changing the way people think about leadership. In a traditional corporate culture, senior leaders are often seen as figureheads who make all the decisions. This top-down approach doesn’t work in a human centred organisation.

Instead, leadership must be seen as something that everyone can do. It’s not about position or title, it’s about influence and inspiration. People first leadership is about putting people before the organisation. It’s about creating a culture where people feel valued and empowered to make decisions. To change the way people think about leadership, organisations need to encourage and enable everyone to take on a leadership role. This can be done by conducting a leadership skills assessment, or by giving people opportunities to lead projects and initiatives.

“In order to create a human centred leadership culture, we need to shift the focus from the organisation to the people.”

Empowering Leaders at all Levels

A human centred approach to developing leaders is about putting people first. It’s about creating a culture where people feel valued and empowered to make decisions. In order to create a human centred leadership culture, we need to shift the focus from the organisation to the people.

One of the things that can make any company successful is to invest in your team’s professional development.  That’s why it’s important to empower leaders at all levels, from front-line managers to senior executives. By developing leadership skills of individuals throughout the business, you create people centric organisations. When your employees feel valued and empowered, they’re more likely to be engaged and committed to their work.

Creating People First Leaders

Leadership is a critical function in any organisation, but it can be especially challenging in organisations that are focused on putting people first. Leaders in these organisations need to be able to put the needs of their employees first and foremost, while also managing the broader goals of the organisation. This can be a difficult balance to strike, and it can often be difficult for leaders to know where to focus their energies.

In creating people first leaders, it must be remembered that developing leadership skills and employee well being are equally important. Leaders must make it clear that employee needs are a priority, and act accordingly. They need to be engaged with their team members; understand them as human beings and have a deeper sense of what their goals are and what challenges they face.

Despite these challenges, there are several ways that leaders can overcome them and successfully implement transformational leadership in their organisations. One way is to start small and gradually make changes over time. This will allow leaders to test new approaches and make adjustments as needed. When leaders commit to putting people first by taking an holistic approach to the way they lead, their teams and organisation can reach their full potential.

About the Author: The Leadership Sphere

The Leadership Sphere helps small and medium businesses and larger organisations in Australia, in creating value through leadership. The Leadership Sphere provides a humanistic approach to the way it delivers leadership, performance and 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.