How about gentleness? Does it have a place in a leader’s exercise of his leadership functions especially in the area of discipline? It has a place but this is something that many leaders tend to overlook or intentionally forget. Because they favor the strong personality of leadership rather than its gentle and humble side.
Traditional, leadership styles emphasize boldness, authority, and power. But gentleness offers a unique and valuable approach to leading and managing others. Gentleness humanizes and gives leadership an added dimension that leaders can utilize when they feel that there’s a need for it.
One of the specific areas where we could fully utilize gentleness in leadership is during the imposition of discipline. There are leaders who impose discipline based on the strength of their position, authority, power, and overbearing egos. They do this by personally berating the erring individual(s), and this has become the norm for many of us.
Gentleness is oftentimes mistaken for weakness by those who have limited understanding of leadership. But this is not true because gentleness can also be bold, determined, courageous, and direct to the point. However, gentleness in leadership is never harsh, arrogant or oppressive. In truth and in fact, gentleness is a powerful technique for leaders and manages which they can harness whenever they want.
It has been proven time and again that a person is more open to change his ways for the better when we talk to him with gentleness. Rather than talk based on the strength of our character, authority and power. For example when we approach an erring person with gentleness he is more open to change and there is less resistance. Rather than approach him with our authority coupled with our bloated egos.
While gentleness in leadership can be effective, it is not suitable for every situation. There would be situations when a more assertive or authoritative leadership approach is required. For example, during times of crisis or when decisive decisions are need to be made. The efficiency of leadership style also depends on the leader's ability to couple gentleness with other leadership approach to suit the need of the situation and the need of the organization.
Gentleness as a leadership technique can help create a positive and productive work environment, improve communication, and foster teamwork within the organization. It's just one of the many leadership approaches available, and its effectiveness hinges on the timing of its utilization.
For a change why not try employing gentleness more often in your exercise of leadership and see the good result that it would give you? - Marino J. Dasmarinas
