As we enter the holiday season, I've been thinking about what it really means to lead with heart. Too often, we confuse professionalism with distance, assuming that maintaining authority means keeping others at arm's length. But what I've found is quite the opposite: when we lead with heart, we actually increase our impact.

How to Bring More Heart to Your Leadership

Step One: Practice Compassionate Clarity

Leading with heart doesn't mean avoiding difficult conversations or decisions. Instead, it means approaching challenges with both courage and care. Here's how:

• Address issues directly while acknowledging the human impact

• Set clear expectations while offering appropriate support

• Give honest feedback through the lens of growth and development

• Make tough decisions while showing respect for those affected

For example, when I needed to restructure something recently, I didn't just focus on the operational changes. I created space for team members to voice concerns, acknowledged the challenge of change, and worked with each person to understand how they could best contribute in the new way forward. This gets faster buy-in and stronger execution than focusing solely on efficiency.

Step Two: Create Real Psychological Safety

Psychological safety isn't just a buzzword—it's about creating an environment where people can be honest about what they think and feel. This takes explicit invitation and consistent reinforcement:

• Directly invite dissent: "If anyone has doubts about this approach, please voice them now. We need to hear them."

• Normalize different perspectives: "It's okay to think this might not work—let's talk about why."

• Create space in meetings for genuine opinions, not just agreement

• Follow through by showing that honesty is valued, not punished

For instance, I often pause during discussions to ask explicitly: "Is anybody doubtful about this? If you are, please say so, because if you walk away from this meeting thinking this is ridiculous, then it's not going to work." This direct acknowledgment that doubt is normal—and valuable—helps people bring their full perspectives to the table.

Step Three: Build Real Relationships Within Professional Boundaries

Professional relationships can be genuinely human without becoming overly personal. The key is creating intentional moments for connection:

• Start meetings with brief but meaningful check-ins

• Remember and follow up on important events in people's lives

• Share relevant personal insights that serve the team's growth

• Create rituals that honor both achievements and efforts

In my own team, I like to ask what’s working well, or if anyone has anything to celebrate. This builds connection while reinforcing our shared values.

One Thing to Ask Yourself This Week:

"Where might I be confusing professionalism with distance? What would it look like to bring more heart to that situation while maintaining appropriate boundaries?"

One Thing to Try:

In your next team meeting, add a two-minute check-in where each person shares one thing they're proud of from the past week. Notice how this small investment in human connection affects the quality of the discussion that follows.

Leading with heart isn't about being soft—it's about being human. When we create space for genuine connection while maintaining clear boundaries and high standards, we don't just feel better—we get better results.

Until next week,

Lauren