In our exploration of the elements of compassion, we have examined awareness and connection – the foundations that allow us to truly see and engage with others. Now, we turn our attention to empathy, the third essential component. Empathy is the emotional resonance that brings us into deeper alignment with the experiences of others. It is the bridge between noticing suffering and taking meaningful action.
Too often organizations break down into functional silos that separate or frustrate one another, or worse, pit one department or individual against another.
As leaders, it’s our responsibility to craft the ways in which all the people within the organization can depend on one another as we work towards common goals. We do this through networks…
Student. Teacher. Leader. Follower. CEO. Receptionist. Parent. Change Champion. Compassion Architect. Host. Elder. Human.
What do all of these titles have in common?
While seemingly different, all of these titles represent a few of the many different roles humans can take.
Roles are one of the most important tools that leaders can utilize to create compassion competence in their organizations.
We are all wired with the same desires – to feel safe, to be loved. These needs put us on paths to seek connection and offer opportunities for our purest expressions of our humanity. There are many things that impede our attempts at getting these needs met. When leaders strive to create cultures of safety, connection, and belonging, we are meeting those core human needs. This is no easy feat.
For those who only hold on to the softer side of compassion, nurturing compassion, it is hard to recognize the true power leading with compassion offers. Compassionate leaders can hold on to the paradoxical aspect of compassion, which is that it also requires great strength. While power alone or strength over systems may feel more efficient, we all know this approach isn’t effective long-term.
From the moment we wake, headlines scream at us and videos cause our stomachs to lurch. It’s tempting to tune out when paying attention can be overwhelming, but a multitude of voices remind us that the time for compassion is now. We’re not strangers to threats to humanity and the planet. The impacts of climate change, social injustice, war and the suffering these forces cause are very present.
Ladders. Jungle Gyms. Plateaus. Mountain tops. All of these nouns are used to describe the things we can climb in our professional and personal journeys. The dots from here to there connect our choices and create our stories, both for ourselves and the organizations we steward. Like small children on a playground, we find ourselves wondering where, when, and what to climb...
As the world gets more complex, we grapple with ways to make sense of our place in its complexity. The temptation to think of situations as black/white or either/or is strong. Humans are programmed to seek clear answers – when we turn towards nuance and invite “yes, and…” into our responses as leaders, there are more opportunities for compassion in choices that better serve our organizations.
