The Heart of Leadership: How Making Decisions with Your Heart Can Benefit You and Your Organisation

Heart-led decision-making is a process in which emotions play a central role in guiding decisions and actions. This approach is based on the belief that our emotions can provide valuable insight and guidance, and that by listening to and trusting our feelings, we can make decisions that are more authentic and align with our values.

There are many leaders today who are too focused on financial outcomes, and this can often come at the expense of human outcomes. These leaders may prioritize profits and shareholder value above all else, even if it means sacrificing the well-being and happiness of their employees or the sustainability of their organizations.

This focus on financial outcomes can have negative consequences, both for individuals and for organizations as a whole. It can create a culture of short-term thinking and a lack of concern for the long-term consequences of actions. It can also lead to unethical behaviour and a lack of transparency, as leaders may prioritize financial gain over honesty and integrity.

On the other hand, leaders who make heart-led decisions may be more attuned to the needs and well-being of their employees and stakeholders. They may prioritize creating a positive and supportive work environment and be more concerned with creating value for all parties involved, rather than just for shareholders.

There are several steps that leaders can take to incorporate heart-led decision-making into their leadership style:

1. Reflect on your values: Take some time to think about what is most important to you, and how you want to show up as a leader. This can help you to make decisions that are more authentic and aligned with your values.
2. Practice mindfulness: Developing a mindfulness practice can help you to tune in to your emotions and listen to your heart. By taking the time to be present and aware of your thoughts and feelings, you can gain a greater understanding of what is most important to you and what you truly desire.
3. Seek input from others: Seeking out the perspectives and experiences of others can help you to see situations from different angles and consider how your decisions may impact them. This can be especially helpful when making decisions that have the potential to affect a large group of people.
4. Trust your intuition: Trusting your instincts and listening to your gut can be an important part of heart-led decision-making. Your intuition is often based on your past experiences and your unconscious mind, which can provide valuable insights that may not be immediately apparent to your conscious mind.
5. Take time to make decisions: It's important not to feel rushed when making decisions, especially when they have the potential to have a significant impact. Taking the time to think things through and consider all of your options can help you to make more informed and well-rounded decisions.
6. When you have made the decision - take action.

Incorporating heart-led decision-making into your leadership style can have a number of benefits for both you and your organization. It can help you to create a more positive and supportive work environment, and to foster greater trust and authenticity within your team. It can also help you to create more value for all parties involved, rather than just focusing on financial outcomes.

However, it's important to note that heart-led decision-making is not without its challenges. It can be difficult to balance the needs and desires of your own heart with the needs and goals of your organization, and it can be challenging to make decisions that may not be in line with what is considered "conventional" or "logical."

Despite these challenges, the benefits of heart-led decision-making make it a valuable approach for leaders to embrace. By trusting your emotions and being attuned to the needs and well-being of your employees and stakeholders, you can create a more positive and human-centred organization, and ultimately achieve greater success.