Compassionate Leadership Training

In times of grief, illness, or major life changes, your leadership matters most.

Hospice UK's Compassionate Leadership Training gives managers the skills to support staff through bereavement, illness and caring responsibilities.

Our Compassionate Leadership training boosts morale, retention, and performance. We equip managers with the skills to support employees through life’s toughest moments — creating a workplace culture where people and productivity thrive.

Below, find out how you can help support your employees through our expert 'Leading with Compassion' workshop, and a free 'Get to know me' worksheet.

What's on this page:

What is 'Compassionate Leadership'?

In the workplace, 'Compassionate Leadership' means treating people with the same care and respect we’d want for ourselves. It’s about creating a space where everyone feels safe, valued, and able to be vulnerable - especially during life’s tougher moments.

We know this kind of compassionate leadership doesn’t always come naturally. Many of us have learned to lead based on past experiences, often in workplaces where emotions were seen as unprofessional, and personal struggles were expected to be left at the door.

That’s why we created our Compassionate Leadership products, to help organisations build a culture where managers feel confident and supported in caring for their teams, especially during the moments that matter most.

Ready to learn more? We'd love to hear from you - please get in touch.

The many reasons why compassionate leadership training matters - to you, managers and employees

Why Compassionate Leadership matters

76% of employees say personal challenges affect their work performance, yet only 38% feel comfortable talking to their manager about what they’re going through.

Your employees may be navigating grief and loss, relationship challenges, financial stress, challenges with fertility and baby loss, mental health struggles and caring responsibilities.

Life doesn’t stop when we start work. And when people feel they have to hide what they’re going through, it can lead to burnout, disengagement and lower performance. 

Leading with Compassion Workshop

As line managers, we’re often the first point of contact when someone on our team is going through a difficult time. Whether it’s grief, illness, or personal loss, knowing how to respond with care and confidence can make a huge difference.

This Compassionate Leadership workshop session is designed to help you feel more prepared and supported when facing these sensitive situations.

Workshop content

'Compassion' means more than just noticing when someone is having a hard time. It’s about truly caring, and wanting to do something to help.

While empathy is about understanding how someone feels, compassion takes it a step further by turning that understanding into supportive action.

Our Leading with Compassion Workshop explores how to recognise and respond to a range of challenges, including:

  • Disenfranchised grief – such as relationship breakdowns, job loss, or infertility
  • Bereavement and loss
  • Caring responsibilities – for children, elderly relatives, or others
  • Supporting employees with a terminal illness

You’ll gain practical tools, compassionate communication skills, and a better understanding of your organisation’s policies and resources — so you can lead with empathy while also feeling confident in your role. 

How to book

Our Compassionate Leadership workshops last 2.5 hours, and can be delivered virtually or in-person. 

To book your session today, please get in touch.

Download your free 'Get To Know Me' worksheet

Start building a trusting and compassionate workplace - right from day one. Our 'Get To Know Me' document is a helpful tool for both managers and employees. It’s designed to make it easier to have open, honest conversations and create a workplace where people feel safe, understood, and supported.

By filling it out, employees can share what matters most to them, so managers and teams can better understand how to help them feel comfortable and do their best work. 

You can download the Get To Know Me document, below.

Our “Get To Know Me” document gives employees the chance to share things that will help people support them at difficult times

Our 'Get To Know Me' document gives employees the chance to share things like:
 

  • Important dates such as birthdays, religious holidays, or death anniversaries
  • How I show I’m struggling and how you can help me when I’m having a tough time
  • How I learn best including any extra support I might need to grow and succeed.
  • How I like to get feedback so we can communicate in a way that works for everyone
  • My working hours and flexibility including if I have caring responsibilities or reasonable adjustments
Download the worksheet
Leading with compassion - on demand products from Compassionate Employers

Leading with compassion: on demand products

Our On-Demand products are designed to give you the flexibility to focus on what matters most to your organisation. 

Whether you’re looking to shine a spotlight on key awareness days with dynamic, interactive webinars, cultivate compassionate leadership through bespoke workshops, or impact employee experience by strengthening your people policies, we’re here to help you make it happen.

Explore our on demand products
Two employees having a meeting

Compassionate Employers

Helping you to better support your employees who are affected by terminal illness, caring and bereavement.

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Questions? Get in touch

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