We all come into this world with the innate dignity shared by every human. Recognizing this truth changes how we relate to ourselves, to those we lead, and to the cultures we build. A foundational principle for all compassionate leaders is to foster environments where dignity is honored within and between every individual.
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.
