Leading with Grace

Showing grace to those we love is usually fairly straightforward. Showing grace to those that we feel are undermining us, threatening us, or come to us from a radically different point of view is an entirely different matter.

Why discuss grace here? Isn’t this sort of thing supposed to be kept out of the world of work? Well, I firmly believe the one thing the world of work needs now more than ever is for each of us to intentionally show grace: to our colleagues, our competitors, and to those who we feel are disrespectful to us (either real or imagined.)

Most of the major world religions all embrace the concept of grace as a central theme to what it means to be followers of that faith. So, I don’t think we need to get all worked up about discussing grace as an essential skill for leaders to develop.

So, what does grace look like to me? How do I (struggle to) practice extending grace in my own life? It has a few central elements that may resonate with you too.

- faith as my guide

- patience

- taking the long-view vs wanting immediate satisfaction

- understanding that how I see the world is not how others see it

- valuing each person as the individual they are

Leading with grace…practicing grace…living with grace as a core part of who I am as a person is difficult. But, I’ve found it to be one of the most empowering leadership practices both personally and professionally.

What role does grace play in your life?

Thanks for being here.

Jay

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