Leadership is about service, not self-interest
The recent interaction between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky has once again shone a spotlight on Trump’s leadership style. Flanked by his allies, Trump’s approach was marked by transactional rhetoric, a lack of empathy, and a strategic focus on political leverage rather than human suffering. For those who advocate for compassionate leadership, this moment serves as a stark example of what leadership should not look like.
At its core, leadership is about responsibility, not dominance. Yet time and again, we see leaders who equate power with strength while dismissing empathy as weakness. This could not be further from the truth. The hardest decisions, whether in politics or the workplace, demand courage, foresight, and above all, a human connection to those affected by them. Real leaders do not sidestep difficult choices, nor do they make them in a vacuum; they make them with people in mind.
Many moons ago, I worked in the City of London, leading a creative team in an environment dominated by white male power structures and relentless, often unmeetable, demands, both physically and psychologically. It was a breeding ground for toxic leadership, and I witnessed countless examples of what not to do. Unfortunately, when speaking with my clients today, I still hear eerily similar stories.
One client, during a mindfulness coaching session, suffered a nosebleed due to sheer distress over her senior leader’s behaviour. This leader displayed zero empathy toward her struggles as a working parent, particularly the challenge of securing childcare. Worse still, they expected her to respond to emails late on a Sunday evening and was indifferent to the fact that she had family abroad in a warzone.
Of course as employees, we must set and communicate our boundaries to safeguard our well-being. But the real responsibility lies with leaders. Seniors must lead with compassion. And let’s be clear, compassionate leadership is not a soft option. It requires courage, awareness, connection and an ability to make tough decisions without losing sight of the humans affected by them.
True leadership isn’t about demanding relentless sacrifice from others it’s about fostering an environment where people can thrive without burning out in the process which has become a global epidemic. If leaders continue to prioritise power over people, they will not only lose the loyalty of their teams but also the respect that true leadership commands.
Trump vs. compassionate leadership
Trump’s approach to Zelensky was a textbook example of self-preservation over service. Their interaction conveyed detachment, political calculation, and a failure to engage with the very real suffering unfolding in Ukraine. Rather than recognising the weight of the moment, they treated it as just another transaction, one where the love of power overrides awareness, authenticity, connection, empathy and courage.
True leadership is about engaging with complexity while maintaining integrity. It requires not only acknowledging suffering but actively seeking ways to alleviate it, without reducing people’s lives to bargaining chips.
Consider historical figures who have led through crises with unwavering compassion: Winston Churchill addressing the British people with resolve and empathy during WWII, or Nelson Mandela choosing reconciliation over vengeance after decades of oppression. Of course, no leader is perfect, there is always room for improvement, lessons to learn and historical events to reflect upon but, these leaders understood that the hardest decisions require not just strength, but a deep commitment to humanity.
Leading For and With compassion
Too often, leadership is framed as a binary choice between decisiveness versus compassion. But this is a false dichotomy. The most effective leaders do not choose between being firm and being kind, they recognise that true leadership requires both.
Leading For Compassion means structuring policies, systems, and decisions to prioritise people’s well-being and alleviate the sources of suffering, even if it feels inconvenient or politically risky.
Leading With Compassion means engaging in direct, human-centred interactions that build trust, strengthen relationships, and foster resilience in difficult times.
Leaders who do both create lasting impact. They inspire, rather than coerce. They unite, rather than divide. And they build legacies based not on fear, but on trust.
How to demonstrate compassionate leadership
Imagine an alternative scenario, one where Trump had embodied the principles of compassionate leadership. Instead of projecting detachment and power dynamics, he could have:
Demonstrated empathy by acknowledging the immense toll of the war on Ukrainian civilians, showing that he values human life above political strategy.
Engaged in active listening by allowing Zelensky the space to speak freely without interruption or posturing, validating his concerns rather than diminishing them.
Offered constructive support rather than framing support as a burden or a negotiation tool, but frame it as a necessary response to humanity at large.
Used inclusive language by avoiding divisive rhetoric and instead reinforced shared democratic values, promoting a sense of global solidarity.
Embraced the courage to lead with compassion by having the courage to take difficult stances when they align with ethical leadership and human dignity.
Imagine if Trump had stood beside Zelensky not as a sceptical negotiator, but as an ally in humanity. What message would that have sent, not just to Ukraine, but to the world?
We are living in an era of profound challenges with geopolitical instability, climate crises, and economic uncertainty. This is causing great distress to everyone, I feel it daily. The leaders we choose to follow, and the kind of leadership we choose to embody, will define our future. We need to see examples of wise and skilful leadership to embed into our psyche. We need to champion those who lead with a commitment to humanity, not self-gain. We need a leadership revolution from within, within our businesses, within our schools, within our governmental authorities.
Leadership is about service, not self-interest
For business leaders, politicians, and decision-makers across industries, the lesson is the same that doing difficult things does not mean doing them without heart. The strongest leaders are those who embrace compassion not as a weakness, but as their most powerful tool.
Compassionate Leadership training teaches our current leaders, and a future ones, how to embed principles of self-awareness, courage, authenticity, and connection and not just theoretical ideals, they are practical tools that transform the way we lead.
It is my belief that young people in our world are the key to this. Each generation has a reaction to the previous. Could generation Z and A, who are reportedly more anxious and sensitive be the holders of compassionate leadership? I truly hope so for the benefit of all.