Heart-Centered Leadership

Intentional leadership is not about telling people what to do, it's a combination of stewardship, grace, and accountability that curates an environment for people to be seen within their humanity and allowing them true autonomy within their area of responsibility.

There are important mantras, that when intentionally infused within the work environment, can weave the fabric of synchronicity. These mantras are:

• Clarity is kindness

• You are a human being, not a robot

• "No" is always an acceptable answer

• You are valued for who you are, not for what you do

• Boundaries are important

• Thank you for your kindness

While the list could continue, these mantras remove the coercive energy around the communication between leaders and those whom with they serve.

Each individual should have the freedom of choice when aligning themselves with an organization. While the pressures of bills, cost of living, and survival can make this "choice" seem rather inevitable, within the workplace an employee should be able to say to her supervisor "I have a dental appointment that day, and I need to take the day off" without her PTO, sick leave, or a write up, even being apart of the conversation.

As leaders, we are not victim's of the system, we are co-creators who propagate systemic norms and attitudes. When you change your perspective from seeing people merely as human resource to engaging with them as invaluable members of your community, the heart can be accessed more readily when making decisions.

In my experience, what you expect of people will materialize. Will some individuals defy your expectations and maintain their inner momentum of negativity? Sure. Nevertheless, on the whole, if you expect greatness, diligence, honesty, thoughtfulness, and togetherness, and model these behaviors, your team will rise to the occasion.

As leaders, the change begins with you, not with the organizational policy, not with the HR procedure, etc., the organizational mood, normative behavior, and atmosphere begins with you. Govern yourself accordingly.