When most people think of leadership, they think of qualities such as strength, decisiveness, and intelligence. While these traits are certainly important, compassion is another important part of being a great leader.

Compassionate leaders see the world from the perspective of their employees and customers because they take the time to put themselves in other people’s shoes. This allows them to build better relationships with the people around them, which leads to a more productive and successful team or organization.

Compassionate leaders are better able to relate to their employees and customers. When seeing the world from another person’s perspective, it is much easier to build a rapport and establish trust. People are more likely to open up to a leader who they feel understands them, and this type of communication is essential for any team or organization. If your employees or customers feel they can’t talk to you about their concerns, they will be less likely to engage with your company or product.

Compassionate leadership fosters a more positive work environment. If you can see the world from your employee’s perspective, creating a work environment t hat meets their needs will be easier. Employees who feel valued and supported are more likely to be productive and engaged with their work. Additionally, a positive work environment is more likely to attract top talent and retain employees.

Compassionate leaders are better able to resolve conflict. When you can see both sides of every issue, finding a resolution that everyone can agree on becomes much easier. Compassionate leaders are better equipped to handle difficult conversations because they understand how the other person feels. As a result, compassionate leaders can often diffuse tense situations before they escalate into full-blown conflict.

Compassionate leadership leads to better decision-making. If you can empathize with the people affected by your decisions, you are more likely to make decisions that are in their best interest. Compassionate leaders also consider the long-term effects of their decisions, which can prevent problems down the road.

In conclusion, compassionate leadership is a vital skill for any leader who wants to be successful. Suppose you can learn to see the world from other people’s perspectives. In that case, you will be able to build better relationships, create a more positive work environment, resolve conflict effectively, and make better decisions. All of these things will lead to a more successful team or organization.

Originally published on Scott Wolfrum’s website.