The Rise of the Compassionate Leader: Should You Be Cruel to Be Kind?

Research shows that the trait of compassion in managers and leaders is linked to an organisation's profitability and productivity. However, the important distinction between "compassion" and "kindness" needs to be understood, insists author and leadership expert Geoff Aigner. Leaders demonstrate compassion by taking an honest interest in the positive growth of employees and themselves – and this includes having difficult conversations to ensure development stays on track. On its own, kindness can be short term and may be counter-productive – a thought-provoking notion for Australian managers who like to be mates with their staff.