We all come into this world with the innate dignity shared by every human. Recognizing this truth changes how we relate to ourselves, to those we lead, and to the cultures we build. A foundational principle for all compassionate leaders is to foster environments where dignity is honored within and between every individual.

In a time when brute force is loudly heralded as effective leadership, and when a prominent billionaire can proclaim that “the fundamental weakness of Western Civilization is empathy,” to center a professional gathering around dignity, compassion, and human flourishing is a radical act.

Compassionate leaders are well-served by integrating head, heart, and body knowledge. One of our favorite ways of strengthening our head knowledge is curling up with a well-written book and exploring the themes and wisdom within. Here are a few recent reads that would be valuable for any compassionate leader to dig into.