The Courage to Care

The New Risk-Taker: The Leader with Heart

In tumultuous times there is always a temptation for leaders to become callous, prioritizing toughness and cold pragmatism over compassion. But the wisest leaders know that true strength lies not in detached policy-making, but in daring to be compassionate towards other people.

Showing compassion is risky in macho work cultures, and yet there is a bigger danger of remaining trapped in toxic paradigms. Leading with purpose, empathy and moral courage can transform nations, organizations and a war weary world. We want to see a world where leaders yearn for purpose, and where companies grounded in caring cultures outperform their competitors.

I remember being invited to a dinner some years ago with then IMF Managing Director Christine La Garde, and a select group of Emirati private and public sector women leaders. The lunch was an intimate discussion about principles, ethics, and the importance of connecting deeply with people we serve. The interaction was extraordinary and left a lasting imprint on me about the importance of inclusion, and the courage to lead with heart.

I believe that leaders who show sincere compassion for their people build reservoirs of goodwill and loyalty that enables all to work collectively to weather storms together. You can see it in organizations where this kind of openness fosters authentic communication, and a workplace where workers feel integrated, valued and validated.

Yet embracing sensitivity is not always easy, it means having the courage to show you care deeply, even when tough decisions cause pain. Compassionate leaders stay grounded in their humanity during trials that harden uncaring souls. Leading this way means rejecting dated views that policing emotions makes one strong. In fact suppressing vulnerability and empathy diminishes leaders’ wisdom and moral authority.

Of course, compassion should never override accountability. But disciplining with understanding, not condemnation, upholds dignity. Enlightened leaders see potential for redemption where others only judge failure. With empathic and supportive guidance, most people actually do rise to become their best selves.

The world today demands our hearts to be wide open, not locked away; to have the courage to lead with empathy when others harden. For in business as in life, where love grows, so too does hope.