Compassion in leadership is exactly what is needed in these challenging times. Trailblazing leaders already bringing this approach into their organizations see the positive impact and change, and at the same time recognize that the path is not easy. If we are to lead compassionately, we must first be willing to non-judgmentally acknowledge things as they are, not as we wish they would be.
When we ask people at the start of our trainings about their curiosities around compassionate leadership, one of the most common questions is, “How can I be a compassionate leader and hold people accountable?” At the Center, compassion and accountability are completely aligned. Discover the five Cs of accountability – five contributors to holding people accountable while leading compassionately.
Some people give and give and give of themselves until they don’t have any more to give. Is there a point where the giving turns counterproductive; when someone is “compassionate to a fault?” This can and does happen, and when it does, it shows the need for awareness of one’s own needs, the value of boundaries, and the importance of understanding what compassion truly is.
The world is hurting. Leaders are uniquely positioned to bring about the needed urgent change and healing. What does it mean to develop leaders based on principles of compassion? Working together, healthy motivation, and a community of belonging lie at the heart of understanding leadership through the lens of compassion.
Guest blogger Louis Ako-Egbe, MD is a health systems strengthening specialist with the World Health Organization and an alum of our Compassionate Leadership in Global Health certification program. We are privileged to share his perspective on the importance of combining compassion with technical competence to strengthen healthcare delivery.
We have a front row seat to all the suffering around the globe as our communication capacity grows and the world shrinks. Research shows that as suffering increases our compassionate feeling decreases. Is this the most helpful response? Compassionate leaders must recognize that we are at risk for compassion collapse and that leaning into our emotions is the way through. This will support our ability to respond compassionately, and tap into the regenerative nature of compassion to keep us resourced.
In celebration of this week’s International Day of Peace, we would like to share the article we wrote for this summer’s Peace Chronicle, the journal of the Peace and Justice Studies Association. Peace and justice require us to address the systemic issues underlying and causing suffering. Systems change is where courage and compassion come together to make a difference in our challenged world.
The premise at the heart of Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others Is the Best Medicine for Yourself by Stephen Trzeciak, M.D. and Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D. is straightforward: By serving others, the authors say, “your life will crack wide open in only the best ways.” The book is clearly well titled. If serving others can do all this, it is truly a wonder drug.
As the pace of positive change around the world accelerates, so does the level of challenge humanity is facing. It is tempting to want to put one’s head in the sand and hope that this will all go away. Or maybe the temptation is to become filled with rage and lash out with anger and hostility. Neither extreme takes us anywhere particularly helpful. What can we skillfully choose to make a constructive difference?
