Leadership with Heart

> Visit https://www.kayemmhr.com/ to learn about Daniella Powell

In the hustle of any organization, it’s easy to believe that hitting targets is the ultimate goal. But what I’ve come to understand over the years is that no objective, no matter how critical, can be achieved without the people behind it. This wasn’t an insight that dawned on me all at once; rather, it was a lesson that took root and grew as I found myself repeatedly entrusted with roles that required more than just decision-making—they required empathy, guidance, and the ability to truly connect with others. These experiences didn’t just shape my approach to leadership; they taught me that at the core of every successful mission is a leader who leads with heart, especially in the world of HR.

Let me take you back to one of those moments. We had a new Department Head who had just taken over. Now, he was no stranger to the industry—he knew his stuff inside out. But being knowledgeable and being an effective leader are two very different things. From the get-go, I noticed that the team wasn’t responding to him the way they should. There was this underlying tension, a disconnect that was impossible to ignore. It wasn’t that he was doing anything blatantly wrong; it was more about what he wasn’t doing.

He was so focused on the mission—on hitting those targets and making sure everything was running like clockwork—that he forgot one crucial thing: the people. You see, the team didn’t trust him. They didn’t feel heard, understood, or valued. And without that trust, no matter how much he knew or how well he planned, the mission was doomed to falter.

I couldn’t stand by and watch this happen. I’d seen it too many times before—leaders with all the right intentions but no connection to their people, leading to inefficiency, frustration, and, ultimately, failure. So, I took a deep breath, gathered my thoughts, and decided to speak up. I approached the Department Head, and I told him what I was seeing.

I’ll never forget that conversation. I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but to my relief, he listened. I explained that he needed to take a step back from the mission for a moment and focus on building trust with his team. They needed to know he had their backs, that he valued their input, and that he was willing to be patient and work with them, not just over them.

To his credit, he took my advice seriously. Over the next few weeks, I watched as he made small but significant changes in how he communicated with the team. He started taking the time to get to know them, to listen to their concerns, and to involve them in the decision-making process. Slowly but surely, the tension eased. The team began to open up, to trust him, and in turn, they became more efficient, more motivated, and more satisfied with their work.

Seeing that transformation firsthand was one of the proudest moments of my career. It wasn’t just about fixing a problem; it was about knowing that I had made a difference. I had a voice, and by using it, I helped create a more positive and productive environment for everyone involved. That experience solidified something in me—a commitment to always advocate for others, to never shy away from sharing concerns, and to lead with heart, no matter the role I was in.

Throughout my career, whether I was counseling someone on their career path, mentoring a colleague, or advising on cultural issues, I carried that lesson with me. Leadership isn’t just about knowing the ropes; it’s about understanding and caring for the people who are holding them.

As business leaders, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers, the goals, the mission. But the truth is, none of that will matter if your people don’t trust you, if they don’t feel valued, or if they don’t see you as someone who genuinely cares about their well-being. Building that trust takes time, effort, and most importantly, heart.

So, the next time you’re faced with a leadership challenge, I encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself: Am I leading with my heart? Am I taking the time to build trust, to listen, and to truly understand the needs of my team? Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about getting the job done; it’s about doing it in a way that leaves everyone involved feeling respected, valued, and motivated to do their best.

Leadership with heart isn’t just good for your team—it’s good for your business. And that’s something I’ve learned time and time again, whether I was leading a team in the office or guiding a group through challenging projects. After all, the heart of HR is, and always will be, about the people.