In surveys of participants in our Compassionate Leadership and Resilience Training program, the number one hurdle to leading more compassionately is shown to be “excess demands on my time.” Where will more time come from to learn to lead compassionately? The process for growing compassion is different from that for growing other skills. You can start growing your compassion today.
Learning the principles of compassion and leadership are important steps on the journey to developing a meaningful compassionate leadership practice. Understanding and doing, however, are two different things. Those who want to show up as truly compassionate leaders need to integrate these principles and practices into their whole life so that is who they become.
Psychology is a science. Writing about psychology, however, is an art. It takes a gifted writer to describe human nature and the complex human brain in engaging, expressive prose. In The Gifts of Compassion: How to understand and overcome suffering, Stan Steindl, PhD, displays the artistry of a storyteller backed by the knowledge and scientific grounding of a University professor.
The COVID pandemic has exacerbated what was already a problem of epidemic proportions: burnout and overwhelm. As we emerge from the pandemic, will we learn the lessons of the costs of burnout and find better solutions as we move forward? Relieving burnout must start with organizations, and compassionate leaders can change their organizations by changing themselves.
The evidence is compelling. Leaders who act with compassion preside over organizations with lower turnover, more committed employees, and create the opportunity for greater creativity and innovation. Point your compass in the right direction, measure the things within your control, and trust the process. Everything else will follow.
There is a perception among many that compassion is not a strategy of strength and that compassionate leaders are too soft or weak. There is a fear, even, of being too compassionate. Good intentions alone are not enough. A deeper understanding of compassion means that one who acts with true compassion never needs to fear being too compassionate.
The anger and hate currently growing in the United States are deeply troubling. But how do we respond? It takes a great deal of courage to resist the urge to scream back at someone screaming at you, but that is exactly what we need to do. Take these four steps to use your compassion to respond productively to hate.
After a grueling 2020, and an even more challenging week one of 2021, how do we persevere and embrace compassionate leadership? Take these four steps as the antidote to a disorienting world: Slow down to understand what lies beneath all the activity, and to anchor yourself, stay focused on the compassionate leadership skills that are always productive, and seek to offer compassion to everyone.
