The Compassionate Leader: 7 Ways to Provide Hope and Healing in the New World of Work

We were taught compassion is a ＂soft skill＂ that makes leaders weak--but we know from the Great Resignation that leaders who lack kindness cannot succeed.

Distinguished organizational psychologists Amy Young, Ph.D. and business strategist and mental health expert Kristin Meekhof, M.S.W., share 7 key strategies to guide leaders struggling to bring their compassion to work.

The time has come for a profound workplace transformation.

Amidst the seismic shift of the Great Resignation, a startling truth emerges--unkind and isolating work environments drove more than 43 million people to abandon their jobs. The corporate grind and soul-draining days are no longer tolerated as the pandemic reshaped our values and how we engage with work.

Dispelling the outdated notion of compassion as a ＂soft skill,＂ the authorsdistinguished psychologists Amy Young, PhD, and Kristin Meekhof, MSW, illuminate a powerful new paradigm, where success and empathy converge.

Young and Meekhof share compelling stories from well-known entrepreneurs and business owners such as New York Times best-selling author, Jesse Itzler and former Shark Tank guest judge, author and venture capitalist, Matthew Higgins, among others. Young and Meekhof provide a roadmap for leaders yearning to connect on a deeper level and master effective communication by combining science-backed research with easy tips for integrating compassion into leadership. They address how keeping secrets (professional and personal) can harm the work environment.

The days of control and command leadership are over. It’s time to lead with empathy, understanding, and compassion.

Amy Young, PhD, is an organizational psychologist, researcher, and faculty member at University of Michigan Ross School of Business. She is also the faculty director of the university’s Center for Positive Organizations and is co-creator of the BluePrint Toolset used to create change in companies.

Kristin A. Meekhof is a business and brand strategist, co-author, writer, and life coach. She earned her MSW from the University of Michigan and has more than 20 years of clinical experience. She is a regular contributor to Psychology Today and has appeared on ABC, CNN, Today, and other national media. She is the author of the best-selling book A Widow’s Guide to Healing.