Is It Possible for a Leader to be Compassionate and Hold People Accountable?
My client, Joe, had a really difficult conversation to navigate. He had an employee who was not performing well and it was affecting morale. On the other hand, he knew the employee was dealing with significant health issues in combination with the challenges that come with working from home with kids who can’t be in school due to the pandemic. The question was – as the leader was it possible for him to show compassion and hold his employee accountable for her work? Although it is a delicate balance, here are some considerations to accomplish both.
1. Clearly Set Expectations
It’s never too late to clarify what is expected of your people. This not only includes the execution of work, but also expectations of communication and attitude. This is best done in 1:1 meetings but is even better when you put it in writing.
2. Listen Intently and Play Back What You Hear
Using active listening and showing empathy is an excellent way to demonstrate to a struggling employee that you care. Most people want to be heard – especially when they are struggling. This doesn’t mean you always agree, but it does mean your care enough to hear what they have to say.
3. Commit to Accountability and Development of Your People
Sometimes development begins with holding people accountable to do what is expected of them. Giving someone a pass when they blatantly miss expectations is not only a disservice to them, it is also a disservice to the team.
4. Use Listening to Determine Compassionate Actions
As you listen, determine areas where you can best support your employee who is in a challenging situation. If you decide it is best to give them grace (after all, we all need it at some point), make sure it is clear why you are doing so and what you still expect them to accomplish. It is also important to mutually agree on timeframes and next steps for moving towards improved performance.
Compassion and accountability are not mutually exclusive in leadership. They can and should both be present in a healthy culture. What strategies will you use to balance the two?