Mindfulness, hope and compassion are three key elements of good leadership, according to authors Richard Boyatsis and Annie McKee in their book Resonant Leadership. “Resonant leadership” occurs great leaders build resonant relationships with those around them. A “resonant” leader is the type of leader who inspires people to want to follow, rather than leading by coercion or merely from a position of power.
Mindfulness occurs when leaders live in full consciousness of self, others, nature and society. Hope occurs when leaders inspire others through clarity of vision, optimism, and belief in turning dreams into reality. Compassion occurs when leaders understand the challenges, difficulties, sacrifices and opportunities faced by the people they lead and serve. Resonance occurs when a leader’s actions are marked by mindfulness, hope and compassion, and dissonance occurs at any other time. Dissonance is the default state.
As well as describing the “soft” qualities required of great leaders, the book provides numerous exercises designed to assist the reader in diagnosing his or her position and developing the key qualities. The book doesn’t cover all of the skills and personal characteristics required of a leader, but it does provide very useful insights into how a leader can improve in certain key areas.