Compassionate Leadership During Election Season

Dear?Leader,

Election season is in full swing.?

We’re observing and experiencing tension and division within our families, communities, and organizations.?

In all my years in leadership, I have never seen more incivility and disrespect in the workplace based on differences in ideologies.?

We’re leading in tumultuous times that require a different approach to influencing our teams.?

As I prepared for this week's live #LinkedInLeadershipTraining, I couldn’t help but think about the heart of leadership.?

Literally, the heart ?? of the leader.?

Which is the source of purpose. The source of humanity. The source of legacy.

When you lead with your heart, you focus on the person before you–not their ideologies, political views, or lifestyles.?

We focus on them. Heart to heart.?

Because beneath it all is a human who wants to be valued for their contributions to your team…

…who wants to be respected for their expertise and brilliance.

…who wants to be told they’re doing a good job!

Let me invite you to a new approach to leading during tumultuous times–like an election year, a global pandemic, or a world war.

It’s called Compassionate Leadership.?

In this week's training, we discussed Compassionate Leadership and explored strategies for supporting yourself and your team through external challenges. Whether it's election season, economic pressures, or personal hardships, these moments of heightened tension demand something powerful from leaders: compassion.

As leaders, we often balance personal and professional challenges, and today’s environment intensifies these pressures. Picture a rubber band stretched in opposite directions—one representing your work responsibilities, the other your personal commitments. Every pull increases the tension; that band will eventually snap without relief.

In this newsletter, you’ll find three key strategies and training replay to help you lead with empathy, stabilize your team, and, most importantly, avoid your own “rubber band” from snapping under stress.

Strategy 1: Compassion Check-ins

When team members face external stressors, performance often suffers. A simple compassion check-in—a conversation that values the person over the performance—can make all the difference. Questions like “How are you doing?” or “What challenges are you facing?” may seem small, but they tell your team, “I see you, and I care.” Checking in humanizes your leadership and reminds your team they’re valued, especially during tough times.

Strategy 2: Practice Active Listening

Active listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to respond; it’s about understanding. Letting your team share openly without judgment can reveal underlying issues impacting their work. A leader who listens fully inspires trust, and trust lays the groundwork for growth. Sometimes, your presence and understanding can be the relief your team member needs most.

Strategy 3: Build a Culture of Support

Leading with compassion starts with modeling empathy and creating a safe space for all perspectives. Make compassion a core team value. When team members feel supported and valued, morale improves, even during times of stress. As a leader, setting a compassionate tone influences everything from team cohesion to organizational resilience.

Watch the training replay here or click the image below.

Moving Forward with Compassion

Compassionate leadership isn’t just a strategy; it’s an invitation to be fully present for your team. In times of tension, when the rubber band feels like it might snap, compassion provides relief. We know the power of compassionate leadership, and that’s why we offer training and resources to support leaders like you every week.

Until next week,??

Dr. Denise Simpson, Ph.D.??

Leadership Trainer, Public Academic, and Executive Coach??

Founder, Masters of Leadership Institute