Sensitive Leadership

Hello friend – it’s Miriam 👋🏻

Welcome to this week’s Ikigami Insider!

We don’t talk about sensitivity enough in leadership.
Most people see it as a weakness. But what if it’s actually your greatest strength?

I’ve spent decades asking myself:

• Why do some leaders inspire trust while others feel disconnected?

• How do traits like extroversion or sensitivity shape success?

Here’s what I’ve learned so far:

• Sensitivity builds trust. Leaders who feel deeply connect authentically—creating bonds that last.

• Sensitivity sharpens intuition. Sometimes, gut instincts reveal what data can’t.

• Sensitivity fuels meaning. When leaders embrace their depth, their goals align with their values—and their impact goes beyond KPIs.

This edition explores how Intuition, Intelligence, and Integrity can turn sensitivity into your leadership superpower. Let’s dive in.

Intuition: What If Your Sensitivity Is an Asset?

We often hear that great leaders are tough, rational, and unshaken. But what if the best leaders are the ones who feel deeply?

Hack 1: Instead of suppressing emotions, listen to them.
Your sensitivity picks up on unspoken dynamics, shifts in morale, and unseen opportunities. The key is trusting that insight rather than dismissing it.

Intelligence: Sensitivity = Strategic Awareness

Data-driven decisions are crucial—but what about the things data doesn’t capture?

Empathetic leaders can anticipate challenges before they surface, navigate complexity with emotional intelligence, and read between the lines in negotiations.

Hack 2: The next time you’re in a high-stakes decision, ask:
What am I sensing that isn’t being said?
Your ability to detect subtle cues might be your most valuable leadership skill.

Integrity: Leading with Depth, Not Just Direction

The most impactful leaders don’t just manage people—they deeply understand them. They create cultures of trust, where people feel seen, valued, and inspired.

Hack 3: Shift from “How can I be a stronger leader?” to “How can I make my team feel stronger?”
Your ability to connect is what sets you apart.

Reflection in Verse

There is no armor for the heart.
No steel, no shield, no walls thick enough
To dull the sharp edge of feeling.

You were not meant to be untouched.
You were meant to stand in the storm—
Not bracing against it, but listening.

Because within the wind,
Within the quiet tremble of things unsaid,
Lies the truth only you can hear.

Your strength is not in silence.
It is in sensing. In knowing.
In daring to feel anyway.

3 Recommended Readings

"The Highly Sensitive Person" by Elaine Aron – Understanding sensitivity as a powerful trait, not a flaw.

"Dare to Lead" by Brené Brown – The courage to lead with vulnerability, empathy, and authenticity.

"Sensitive" by Jenn Granneman & André Sólo – Unlocking the hidden power of highly sensitive people in a fast-paced world.

A Question for You

Where do you stand?

I’m currently gathering insights for my master’s thesis on leadership and personality. By taking part in this anonymous survey, you can:

✔ Reflect on how your unique traits shape your leadership style
✔ Contribute to research that’s redefining leadership
✔ Discover how sensitivity can empower your success

Take the survey here: Click to participate

Maybe your greatest leadership strength has been within you all along.

With clarity and courage,
Miriam