Leaders who care: How to be one and why it matters

A caring approach matters in any professional environment. Leaders who care lead effective, successful teams where all employees know their value.

It’s not enough to say you care about your team or the work you do. You need to take clear steps that integrate a caring mindset at the heart of your organisation. When you do this well, you can improve employee experience and engagement while also impacting the bottom line.

According to Great Places to Work research, a caring community at work is the strongest driver of above-average revenue among smaller businesses.

As a leader, why should you care, and how can you show it? This is your Heart Talent guide.

The impact of caring leadership

Caring leaders can have a profound impact on organisational culture and employer brand.

As a caring leader, you recognise your role not just as an employer but as the captain of a purpose-driven team.

If you want to do your job well – and give your employees the chance to do the same – you need to care about the mission you’re striving towards and the people who help you achieve your goals.

Research shows that 71% of Australians are disengaged at work. Why? Often, employee engagement comes down to workplace culture, including the way people are treated and how valued they feel. 

Caring leadership isn’t an extra. People need leaders who care about them and their work in order to help them live up to their full potential. A caring leader can improve team productivity and enhance talent retention. It has to be part of your strategy.

What you can do

Action is the key to developing your leadership skills and becoming a more caring leader. Don’t sit back and wait to improve. You need to chase the results you want to see. 

Build relationships

According to the Niagara Institute, 17.4% of leaders rely on relationships to get things done. We think this number should be higher. 

Relationship building is an essential component of successful leadership. By building relationships within your team, you can open lines of communication and establish opportunities for trusting collaboration. Authentic professional relations with a respectful foundation can give your team the strength it needs to improve. 

Listen to people

Your employees are the key stakeholders in your organisation’s employee experience. As a caring leader, it’s your job to understand your team. When you ask questions, seek feedback and listen to employee voices, you can understand how best to serve your people.

This can help employees feel valued and heard at work. It can also give you the required knowledge to personalise benefits and enhance your offer.

Display empathy

Empathy is an important part of any relationship, and work is no exception. 

Good leaders know how to understand their employees and show compassion when it’s needed. Look beyond your daily agenda, and start thinking about employees as people first. When you display empathy for your team, you can earn their trust and lead with kindness.

Provide mentorship

Mentorship can be incredibly valuable in the workplace. In fact, 97% of individuals who have a mentor say that this relationship is highly impactful. 

As a leader, you can also act as a mentor for your employees. Provide your people with support to learn and grow. Give your team every chance to take the next step in building a successful career.

Commit to growth

Good leaders are committed to continuous improvement. You should always be looking for ways to be a more caring, empathetic leader. Talk to your team. Find out how you can support them better.

Whatever your organisation stands for, make sure you don’t lose sight of your mission. Caring for the cause is important.

Learn more about effective leadership

Want to learn more about how to be an effective leader? Find more insights on the Heart Talent blog.