5 Ways You Can Be a More Thoughtful Leader Today

Thoughtful leaders seem to be quite rare in the workplace. That doesn’t mean that these rare people don’t exist. It would be good to work in a world where thoughtful leadership was the norm.

Unfortunately this isn’t the case because personal ambition and a lack of regard for others can cause poor leadership. When thinking about how you can be a thoughtful leader, it’s good to start by examining what they’re all about.

What is a Thoughtful Leader?

Well, the name is a giveaway. A thoughtful leader is a leader who thinks more than your average leader. The thoughtful leader thinks often about the impact of her behaviour, actions and leadership on the people around her.

A thoughtful leader thinks about the impact of decisions before he makes them. Let’s look at some more specific characteristics of thoughtful leaders.

1. A Thoughtful Leader Displays Empathy

Thoughtful leaders have the ability to empathise with others. They are able to put themselves in somebody else’s shoes and attempt to understand how others feel. Thoughtful leaders don’t know everything, but they put effort into trying to understand others.

When they make decisions, thoughtful leaders think about how this may impact their team. They use phrases like “If that was me, I’d feel…” to try to understand how others are responding to situations.

A thoughtful leader talks to his team to see whether he has the right opinion of somebody else’s behaviour. Empathy is a developed skill that comes from observing behaviour in others and understanding the true reasons behind it, rather than just guessing.

To learn how you can build empathy, read more here: 4 Ways Leaders Can Build Empathy in the Workplace (and Why It Matters).

2. A Thoughtful Leader Is Introspective

Some people seem to go through life looking outwards. Sometimes, a thoughtful leader looks inside to better understand their own thoughts and feelings about a situation. Other times, they look inwards to see whether they feel they could have done better.

When a thoughtful leader is upset or angry, they look inward to try to understand these feelings, if it isn’t immediately obvious. When somebody around them is unhappy or upset, a thoughtful leader will look inwards to see whether they could have perhaps acted to create a different outcome.

Introspection is why a thoughtful leader always improves, because they learn from their mistakes.

3. A Thoughtful Leader Is Perceptive

Thoughtful leaders don’t wander through life in a bubble. They pay special attention to the signs around them. They pay attention to body language, emotions, what people say and what people do.

Thoughtful leaders do this because it helps them react to the world. If they know somebody is upset, they may choose to act differently than they would otherwise. If someone is showing passive aggressive behaviour, they’ll respond differently to that, too.

Leaders who aren’t perceptive will often stumble into situations and make decisions that aren’t appropriate. They’ll upset people and cause conflict. A thoughtful leader knows that conflict is sometimes necessary, but it should never be unexpected.

4. A Thoughtful Leader Stands Up For Themselves and Others

Some people think that the word “thoughtful” implies softness or weakness. They think that this doesn’t go hand in hand with leadership. A thoughtful leader knows that this isn’t the case.

A thoughtful leader understands how her team is feeling, so she knows when she needs to push back and say no to unreasonable requests. She knows when she needs to take a stand, because if she doesn’t, bad things will happen. This is why a thoughtful leader is not a pushover.

Thoughtful leaders will make tough decisions, but they won’t make them without thinking first. Thoughtful leaders are not out to be friends with everyone, but they realise that when you like what you do and you like the people you work with, you’ll get better results.

Tip: If you struggle to say “No” and push back on unreasonable demands, Thoughtful Leader can help. Check out the Managing Upwards eBook, for tools and techniques to build confidence and help you say “No”. You and your team deserve better… try the eBook today.

5 Ways You Can Be a More Thoughtful Leader Today

If you want to be a thoughtful leader, you need to develop these characteristics.

1. You need to take time to think about the impact you have on others, before making decisions or taking actions.

2. You need to be aware of the situations and people around you. Observe what makes people happy and try to understand why. Observe what makes people angry and the reasons for it. When you observe points of interest, take some notes if you need to, so you can remember for next time.

3. Note the different characteristics of your team members. They are all different, and sometimes need to be treated in different ways to get the best results. You might reward them differently, praise or recognise them differently, depending on how they like to be treated.

4. You need to engage in the practice of being introspective. Thinking inwardly about what you could have done better and why you feel the way you do. Take time out to do so. This is what leads to improvement.

5. You need to show empathy with the people around you. If you find this naturally difficult, use this sentence structure to frame your thoughts: “if that was me, I’d feel _______, because _______”.

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Being a thoughtful leader is not easy, because it’s not all about you. You need to consider the impact you have on those around you and act accordingly. You need to slow down and be intentional about what you do and why.

That’s how to be a thoughtful leader. Your team will thank you for it.

What else do you think is involved in thoughtful leadership? Leave a comment below!

Alternatively, if you would like to ask a question or need some help, you can send me a private message through my contact page.