Written by: Santarvis Brown, Senior Level Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Business leadership isn’t a one-size-fits-all role. There are as many strategies to leading successfully as there are industries, and seemingly everyone has their favorite. I think that sometimes it’s easy to miss some of the most important elements of being an effective leader, however, regardless of how committed you are to your current leadership plan. For example, grace is crucial to the role of a leader. Without it, professional relationships might fail to flourish and the people following your direction might be less inclined to pull out all of the stops when it comes to finishing projects.
I know firsthand how important it is to lead with grace, and I’d like to share some of my observations and tips with you.
What is “grace”?
Before we talk about how to lead gracefully, we should take a closer look at the term itself. In leadership, “grace” typically means treating the people around you with respect and empathy without compromising your overall goals.
Leading with grace is showing kindness and compassion when people are struggling and need help. Instead of assuming the role of a leader whose word is absolute, in other words, leaders with grace listen to the people around them, adjust their leadership needs and strategies on the fly, and see their team members as more than a means to an end.
Why is grace important in leadership?
Grace is an important element in many situations, but you might not expect leadership to be one of them. In reality, business is the perfect place for a bit of grace. After all, emergencies and unexpected situations sometimes seem to lie in wait for the perfect moment to explode. In the midst of a busy project is often where sudden needs and concerns arise.
Leading with grace means not just accepting that someone is struggling but understanding why and working to offer them personalized assistance to guide them back on track as needed. When you do this, you are making the decision to prioritize your employees over the deadlines they might have missed and, in return, build trust with the team as a whole. Everyone wants a leader they can rely on to have their back when the unexpected strikes.
How can you lead with grace?
Leading with grace is defined by five different values – GRACE:
Generosity
Respect
Action
Compassion
Energy
When combined, the elements of GRACE help position leaders toward service. This is different from other leadership methods, which place leaders as an authoritative entity rather than a teammate. Leading with grace means aligning your own interests with your employees’ and driving them to succeed while being compassionate in the face of difficulties.
You can think of leading with grace as leading for a collective. Your goal is to smooth over any rough patches you might encounter while strengthening the “glue” that holds the team together. When paired with a dynamic vision and thirst for success, grace can help leaders build strong, seamless units of talented employees with a shared goal.
Santarvis Brown, Senior Level Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dr. Santarvis Brown has spent 15+ years serving as a leader, innovator, and changemaker in education, showcasing in-depth insight as an administrator, educator, and program director. A noted speaker, researcher, and full professor, he has lent his speaking talent to many community and educational forums, serving as a keynote speaker. He has also penned several publications tackling issues in civic service, faith, leadership, and education.
