--- title: The origins of the gentle art of leadership description: The origins of the gentle art of leadership image: https://donovanleadership.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/The%20image%20depicts%20a%20serene%20morning%20scene%20bathed%20in%20soft%20hues%20of%20dawn%20A%20gentle%20mist%20rises%20over%20a%20tranquil%20lake%20reflecting%20the%20pastel%20colors%20of%20the%20sky-1.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership#main-content) ![cropped-DON_LongRGB01](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/cropped-DON_LongRGB01.jpg?width=886&height=247&name=cropped-DON_LongRGB01.jpg) - [Home](https://donovanleadership.com/) - [Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/executive-coaching-transform-your-leadership-style-donovan-leadership) Show submenu for Coaching - [One on One Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/one-on-one-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/group-coaching) - [Blog](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [All Posts](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) - [Research](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/tag/research) - [Books](https://donovanleadership.com/books) - [About](https://donovanleadership.com/about) Show submenu for About - [Contact Us](https://donovanleadership.com/contact) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Home](https://donovanleadership.com/) - [Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/executive-coaching-transform-your-leadership-style-donovan-leadership) Show submenu for Coaching - [One on One Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/one-on-one-coaching) - [Group Coaching](https://donovanleadership.com/group-coaching) - [Blog](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) Show submenu for Blog - [All Posts](https://donovanleadership.com/blog) - [Research](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/tag/research) - [Books](https://donovanleadership.com/books) - [About](https://donovanleadership.com/about) Show submenu for About - [Contact Us](https://donovanleadership.com/contact) - [Influence Curve Quiz](https://influence-curve.lovable.app/) [Influence Curve Quiz](https://influence-curve.lovable.app/) May 14, 2020, 2:00:00 PM # The origins of the gentle art of leadership [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://donovanleadership.com/blog/the-origins-of-the-gentle-art-of-leadership) Did our early role models give you your foundational values - whether it is compassion for others, honesty or integrity. Dean Phelan and are I writing a book called, The Gentle Art of Leadership. And we have been asking practitioners of the gentle art who their role models were. Many of them have attributed important people in the early lives such as their parents, grandparents, teachers or their first boss for the lessons they learned about treating people with dignity and respect. These leaders practice the gentle art of leadership because of the foundational values they were given. Maybe it’s similar for you? Perhaps your first boss demonstrated the importance of integrity. Or a grandparent taught you how to set your sights high. Your parents may have shown you that it is important to care for those in need in the community. Important mentors in your life could have ingrained in you the value of remaining humble and keeping your feet on the ground. 🙋 Who was an important role model for you and what did they teach you? Please comment below so we can all benefit from your insights 👏 P.S. Let's connect to see how I can help you move up the #influencecurve ## Related posts [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/In%20a%20bright%20modern%20office%20space%20filled%20with%20natural%20light%20Dianne%20sits%20at%20a%20sleek%20wooden%20desk%20her%20expression%20a%20mix%20of%20determination%20and%20relief%20Surroun-1.jpg?height=200&name=In%20a%20bright%20modern%20office%20space%20filled%20with%20natural%20light%20Dianne%20sits%20at%20a%20sleek%20wooden%20desk%20her%20expression%20a%20mix%20of%20determination%20and%20relief%20Surroun-1.jpg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) ## [Take the busy monkey off your back; the shift from doing to leading](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Mar 9, 2023, 4:00:00 PM Dianne was a prodigious doer. She accomplished more than most people. But it meant she was always... [Read more](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/take-the-busy-monkey-off-your-back-the-shift-from-doing-to-leading) [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/cropped-cropped-DON_LongRGB01-Apr-17-2025-10-32-34-4205-PM-Jun-09-2025-08-08-25-8302-AM.jpg?height=200&name=cropped-cropped-DON_LongRGB01-Apr-17-2025-10-32-34-4205-PM-Jun-09-2025-08-08-25-8302-AM.jpg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/bookshop/the-gentle-art-of-leadership) ## [The Gentle Art of Leadership](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/bookshop/the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [Admin](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/admin) Feb 15, 2017, 4:00:00 PM The Gentle Art of Leadership The Gentle Art of Leadership, by Brian Donovan and Dean Phelan, is now... [Read more](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/bookshop/the-gentle-art-of-leadership) [![](https://donovanleadership.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/The%20image%20portrays%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20with%20a%20group%20of%20diverse%20professionals%20gathered%20around%20a%20sleek%20conference%20table%20The%20atmosphere%20is%20colla-1.jpg?height=200&name=The%20image%20portrays%20a%20modern%20office%20environment%20with%20a%20group%20of%20diverse%20professionals%20gathered%20around%20a%20sleek%20conference%20table%20The%20atmosphere%20is%20colla-1.jpg)](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-good-listening-is-much-more-than-being-silent-while-the-other-person-talks) ## [Why good listening is much more than being silent while the other person talks](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/why-good-listening-is-much-more-than-being-silent-while-the-other-person-talks) [Brian Donovan](https://donovanleadership.com/blog/author/brian-donovan) Mar 17, 2022, 3:00:00 PM When Dan took on his new role, he did not want to fall into the trap of communicating his vision... 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