Shuffling into work on a dreary day, you discover a small piece of paper on your desk from your boss. Looking closer, you realize it’s a note of encouragement, acknowledging the hard work you’ve done and the steps you’ve taken to become a dedicated staff member. With note in hand, the day begins with a new sense of joy and commitment. This is benevolent leadership in action.
As we develop our entrepreneurial dreams, uncover new callings, and pursue new vocations, it’s important to learn new leadership skills. That’s why a commitment to being ethical and becoming a benevolent leader is crucial.
Benevolent people are kind people, but their kindness translates from thought to real-life action. By combining community, meaning, and moral ethics, benevolent leaders make a tangible difference in the lives of their followers.
Benevolence in the Bible champions others to rise higher and become all that God created them to be. It is service focused, outcome oriented, and intentionally honest. God is benevolent, kind, and slow to anger (Psalm 103:8). By studying examples of benevolence and learning new leadership styles, we are transformed into leaders of integrity.
There are several credible leadership styles that are backed by research, including servant leadership and transformational leadership. However, another style to add to the “toolkit” of new skills is benevolent leadership.
Benevolent leadership is a newer style initially researched by Fahri Karakas. It focuses on creating meaning for individuals with the goal of attaining the common good, inspiring hope, and pursuing whole-hearted intentionality. Rather than simply making the choice to serve others because it’s on the “to-do list”, benevolent leaders make decisions out of a deeper sense of love, kindness, and charity.
Benevolent leadership in a practical sense involves making fair choices based on ethics, encouraging positivity and togetherness, and choosing to champion the good. Viewing others as unique individuals who each have something equally different and equally beautiful to bring to the table makes a tangible difference.