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Our Leading with Compassion workshop helps 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. 

Our next workshop is on Tuesday 6th October 2026, find out more and book your place here.  

We're also running a special National Grief Awareness Week session on Thursday 3 December 2026.

Course overview

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As line managers, we are often called upon to support our teams through some of life’s most vulnerable and complex moments. This session is designed to deepen your understanding of compassionate leadership and equip you with the confidence to navigate sensitive situations with empathy, clarity and practical awareness. 

We’ll explore the realities of disenfranchised grief, such as relationship breakdowns, job loss or infertility, as well as the challenges of supporting employees facing serious illness, caring or grief. Through discussion, reflection and applied practice, you’ll learn how to respond with compassion, hold supportive conversations and apply organisational policies in a way that feels human and grounded. 

By the end of the session, you’ll be better prepared to embed compassion into everyday leadership and create a workplace where people feel genuinely seen, supported and able to thrive.

Learning outcomes

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Understanding Compassionate Leadership 

  • Develop a clear understanding of what compassionate leadership looks like in practice.
  • Explore how empathy, emotional intelligence and psychological safety influence team wellbeing and performance.
  • Understand the importance of truly knowing your team and showing up for individuals in meaningful, human-centred ways. 

Navigating Sensitive and Complex Situations 

  • Build awareness of the life events employees may experience, including disenfranchised grief, caring responsibilities, terminal illness and bereavement.
  • Understand how these experiences may show up in the workplace and influence behaviour, communication and performance.
  • Learn how to recognise when additional support, adjustments or signposting may be needed. 

Holding Compassionate and Vulnerable Conversations 

  • Learn practical frameworks for approaching difficult conversations with clarity, confidence and care.
  • Explore language and approaches that support trust, dignity and psychological safety.
  • Understand how to manage your own emotional responses while supporting others through challenging moments. 

Compassionate Leadership in Practice 

  • Understand the balance between the “human doing” and “human being” aspects of supporting employees.
  • Use breakout sessions to explore real life scenarios and practise compassionate responses.
  • Gain a basic understanding of the legal protections in place for employees and how to use internal guidance and policy effectively. 

Embedding Compassion into Everyday Leadership 

  • Identify small, intentional behaviours that build a culture of compassion and inclusion.
  • Reflect on your own leadership style and create personal commitments for continued growth.
  • Strengthen self-compassion as a leader, including selfcare strategies and wellbeing network mapping to help prevent burnout and compassion fatigue. 

Audience

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This practical and interactive workshop is recommended for all leaders and line managers, including those in HR and Wellbeing roles. It’s designed to help you better support team members through grief, illness, or personal loss, helping you respond with both confidence and compassion.

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Leading with Compassion workshop

Join the Compassionate Employers team for our upcoming interactive virtual workshops on either:

Tuesday 6 October 2026

Thursday 3 December 2026

The cost is just £199 + VAT per person.

Book your place
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Welcome to the Compassionate Employers hub from Hospice UK, with bereavement and carer support resources for line managers, employees and Human Resources

Why Compassionate Leadership matters

76% of employees say personal challenges can affect their work, yet only 38% feel comfortable telling their manager

Grief, relationship issues, financial stress, fertility struggles, mental health concerns, and caring responsibilities don’t stop at the office door

When people feel they must hide what they’re going through, it can lead to burnout, disengagement, and lower performance