Sparking Leadership #4: When life happens (or where policy ends and leadership begins)

Have you ever been in a situation where you had to bend the rules?

Maybe you knew what the policy said but your gut told you the right thing was something else. A more flexible, more human approach.

Company policies exist for a reason: to protect operations, ensure fairness, and create clarity. But what is a business, if not its people? Although I’ve created people-focused policies for years, I’ve been in this situation more times than I can count.

Here’s one example: An employee needed time off to care for a terminally ill parent. The policy allowed 10 days. They ended up needing 4+ months. The work didn’t stop. The team still had goals. But someone’s life was unraveling.

We got resourceful: We extended their leave, we switched their contract and we brought in temporary support.

What we didn’t do? Pressure them to return before they were ready. You may think this was an exception - but great leadership often shows up in the exception.

A practical guide on how to lead through the crisis:

Leading in tough moments requires both compassion and structure.

✅ Plan for the unpredictable

• Budget for emergency cover.

• Cross-train teams for agility.

✅ Communicate with care

• You can respect privacy and still lead: “They’re facing something personal. Let’s support them and one another. Here’s how we’ll move forward.”

✅ Empower the team to step up

• Colleagues can lead too - by showing up, filling gaps, and simply being kind.

🤝Compassionate leadership is more than just a buzzword.

People do their best work when they feel safe, seen, and supported. Leaders who show empathy build trust, resilience, and performance. It’s not a choice between #compassion or results. It’s compassion that enables results.

And remember: not every struggle is visible. Whether grieving a parent, burning out, or mourning a pet - we don’t choose what matters. We choose how we respond.

❓Question for you:

How do you know when it’s time to follow the policy and when it’s time to bend the rules for the sake of the person?

---

🌟Sparking Leadership is a series of weekly posts on #leadership. Follow along if you're interested in leading with more clarity, courage, and intention. And if there’s a leadership challenge you’d love to see tackled, let me know. In the meantime, lead with spark!