Gracious leader is not a term we use, or hear, often. Instead, we associate words such as strong, assertive, courageous and determined with leadership. However, the gracious leader is among those we admire most, the ones we often reference as great leaders.
- Abraham Lincoln
- Mahatma Gandhi
- Nelson Mandela
- Dalai Lama
- Jesus Christ
- Eleanor Roosevelt
These leaders were also fierce. Each was a force to be reckoned with on behalf of his or her cause.
I’m advocating for placing greater value on gracious leadership. Speaking of it more often. Identifying graciousness as a desirable leadership quality. It’s an issue that comes to mind even more so given the lack of grace demonstrated by both presidential candidates in the United States’ 2016 elections.
Graciousness is Powerful
G-dliness is an obsolete definition of graciousness. Grace is what we say before a meal. It’s is an expression of gratitude. Grace reminds us to be thoughtful, to consider the gifts from a universe that makes our lives possible.
Some families and groups join hands when they say Grace. Grace has the power to bring us together. It gives us pause before we consume. While writing these words, I am more conscious, reflective, thoughtful, grateful and humbled. I am also feeling less entitled and demanding.
How Gracious Leaders Achieve More
Modern day definitions of gracious include:
- Marked by kindness and delicacy
- Characterized by generosity of spirit
- Compassionate
David Brooks posits how a gracious leader perceives the world. How she behaves and, as a result, what she creates.
If you treat the world as a friendly and hopeful place, as a web of relationships, you’ll look for the good news in people and not the bad. You’ll be willing to relinquish control, and in surrender you’ll actually gain more strength as people trust in your candor and come alongside. Gracious leaders create a more gracious environment by greeting the world openly and so end up maximizing their influence and effectiveness.
In other words, a gracious leader creates more effective followers. How? Our trust and our gratitude makes them feel better. When we make people feel better about themselves, they want to do more of what they did to earn our trust and gratitude.
Demanding leaders get others to do what’s demanded of them, but nothing more.
Which would you prefer?