The Business Case for Compassionate Leadership: Why Do We Still Let Bullies Rise?
For those of us who champion integrity, empathy, and inclusivity in leadership, recent news and trends are rather discouraging. Yet they also reinforce the urgent need to redefine what true leadership looks like. We have a real challenge at our hands; making the business case for servant leadership, proving that it’s not just the ethical choice and “nice” thing to do, but also the smarter path to long-term, sustainable success.
In his Forbes article, Why Bullies Make Bad Leaders, 2016, Chris Myers highlights how society often mistakes aggression for strength, a misconception reinforced by evolutionary biases, rewarding bullies with leadership positions despite their inability to inspire real loyalty or effectively lead. He argues:
- Aggression ≠ Strength – Loud, forceful behavior is often mistaken for leadership, yet true strength lies in integrity, quiet confidence, and service to others.
- Humility Builds Trust – The best leaders acknowledge their limitations, empower their teams, and prioritize collective success over self-promotion.
- Servant Leaders Succeed Where Bullies Fail – By supporting and uplifting others, compassionate leaders foster loyalty and long-term results.
Supporting this, Stephen Trzeciak, Anthony Mazzarelli, and Emma Seppälä argue in Harvard Business Review that compassionate leadership isn’t just a virtue—it’s a science-backed strategy for business success. Research shows that:
- Employees respond more positively to compassionate leaders, as demonstrated by neuroimaging studies.
- Compassionate cultures reduce burnout, absenteeism, and turnover while increasing motivation and performance.
While bullies may be skilled at grabbing power, they ultimately fail to create lasting success. Compassionate leaders, on the other hand, build resilient teams, strong organizations, and enduring loyalty. It’s time we stop mistaking dominance for leadership and start valuing the qualities that truly drive sustainable success. Because, given lessons learned from history and our ability to rationalize, we should know better.
Sources https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrismyers/2016/04/01/why-bullies-make-bad-leaders/
https://hbr.org/2023/02/leading-with-compassion-has-research-backed-benefits
