In The New World, The HR Leader Will Be Chief Compassionate Officer: Paul Dupuis

The dynamics of leadership are changing unexpectedly due to the latest worldwide outbreak. The COVID-19 pandemic led everyone to experience the totally volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous times. Traditionally, leadership was assessed on the basis of some competencies, and of course, it was about delivering on results but the definition of leadership has completely changed now. Words like agility started appearing, we heard words like EQ and IQ, and these are the new ways to mark the leader’s competencies.

Empathy is the major focus of leaders in action. Adding on to this and differentiating with a thin line between empathy and compassion Dupuis explained, ‘Empathy is reactive and doesn’t lead to any action. What really triggers the action is compassion.’ Empathy is about tick marking a box where we asked and showed interest in just asking about the wellbeing of our people but compassion is totally action-oriented. Compassion really means empathy and sympathy that leads to action.

Combining empathy and compassion and stating the crucial importance of both of these traits, Dupuis shares his strong viewpoints about the changing leadership he said, “A compassionate leader is someone who shows a sense of support, warmth, and a message of promise that we are with you on the journey.”

During these crisis-hit days; HR leaders are considering these days to Re-think and Re-invent the role of HR and developing values and skills that are relevant and needed. While discussing the role of HR and Leaders Dupuis advised, “I would urge all leaders to start a conversation with your people not about algorithms, matrix, productivity or output but start with ‘how are you or how are you doing?” 

While reinforcing and emphasizing on a well-known quote that says ‘Crisis is an opportunity’; Paul Dupuis said, “This is an opportunity for leaders to develop new skills, traits, and muscles. One muscle is this notion of compassionate leadership.” Adding on to it he mentioned and urged leaders to start the conversation with human-centric discussions and with a genuine sense of support.

Concluding the keynote address he mentioned the famous quote by Peter Drucker- ‘Culture eats strategy for breakfast’ and while making this quote relevant to the theme of Compassionate Communication he presented his version of the same quote and said– “Compassion eats strategy for breakfast.”