Abstract
Abstract
Leadership with Kindness: A Human-First Approach to Belonging explores the significance of belonging and mattering as essential elements of effective leadership. This reflection paper presents a human-first framework grounded in five interconnected pillars: clarity through compassion, courage in care, connections over control, consistency with integrity, and accountability through kindness. Together, these pillars form a foundation for cultivating belonging and purpose in organizational and educational settings. Drawing from leadership experience, psychological safety, student development theory, and neuroscience, this manuscript suggests that environments built on kindness benefit both individuals and organizations by cultivating trust, inspiring innovation, and sustaining resilience.
Key Words: kindness, leadership, belonging, purpose, higher education, compassion, human-first, psychological safety
Recommended Citation
McDowell, D. (2025). Leadership with Kindness: A Human-First Approach to Belonging. The Journal of Advancing Education Practice, 6(2). https://openriver.winona.edu/jaep/vol6/iss2/3
Included in
Education Commons, Industrial and Organizational Psychology Commons, Leadership Studies Commons, Other Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons, Social Psychology and Interaction Commons
