Leading with Heart: My Journey as a Social Emotional Leader
There was a time when leadership was measured by how efficiently we executed a plan, how closely we followed policy, or how well we managed a team’s output. But my journey has taught me that true leadership—lasting leadership-comes—comes from the heart.
As a Lunch Lady turned School Administrator, Interfaith Minister, Positive Psychology Practitioner, and Cancer Survivor, my path has been anything but conventional. Still, one truth has remained constant: people thrive when they feel seen, safe, and supported. This belief has become the heartbeat of my work as a Social Emotional Leader.
From Hardship to Healing
I didn’t arrive here by accident. Like many others, my childhood was filled with adversity. I learned early how to survive in emotionally unpredictable environments. Later in life, a Stage IV colon cancer diagnosis gave me the unshakable clarity that every heartbeat matters—and that connection, not control, is what saves us.
Through pain and perseverance, I discovered something powerful: healing happens in community, and leadership is at its best when rooted in empathy, trust, and joy.
What It Means to Lead with Heart
1. I Listen Before I Lead
Leadership starts with listening—not fixing. Creating spaces for open dialogue and emotional honesty has transformed not only the teams I’ve led, but also the outcomes we’ve achieved together.
2. I Center Wellbeing Over Workloads
My leadership style incorporates the PERMA-V model of Positive Psychology—prioritizing Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment, and Vitality. When people feel emotionally supported, their work reflects it. Morale improves, collaboration strengthens, and joy returns.
3. I Celebrate the Whole Human
Everyone brings their story to the table. I don’t just see employees, volunteers, or students—I see humans with hopes, fears, families, and dreams. When we lead with that level of compassion, the ripple effects are immeasurable.
The Power of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership
Social Emotional Leadership isn’t just “soft skills”—it’s the core of sustainable impact. Research continues to show that emotional intelligence outperforms technical skill in determining success. As someone who has worked in food service, education, ministry, and healthcare spaces, I can tell you this: hearts lead better than hierarchies.
From Surviving to Thriving: My Call to Serve
Today, I use my experience to coach others through my nonprofit, Lee Lee’s Life Lessons, Inc. Whether through the Let Us Play™ – Thriving With and Beyond Cancer series or our Leadership Lounge for school nutrition professionals, every offering is a labor of love—infused with intention, joy, and deep empathy.
I believe we are all leaders, whether we’re in a classroom, a kitchen, a boardroom, or a hospital room. And when we lead from the inside out, we don’t just change systems—we change lives.
In Closing
Leading with heart isn’t always the easiest path, but it is always the most transformative. I stand here not just as a survivor, but as a steward of compassion-based leadership.
If you’ve ever wondered whether kindness has a place in leadership, I invite you to walk with me. Together, we can build workplaces—and communities—that flourish through empathy, purpose, and play.
With heart,
Lisa Caughman Payne, M.Msc(c)., CAPP
Founder, Lee Lee’s Life Lessons, Inc.
Ordained Interfaith Minister | Positive Psychology Practitioner | Social Emotional Leader
