Most of us think we have to make a difficult, binary choice between being a good person or being a tough, effective leader. This is a false dichotomy. Being human and making hard leadership decisions are not mutually exclusive.
Remember the Golden Rule
- Do unto others as you would have others do unto you
- This Golden Rule is a helpful step for putting wise compassion into action since it requires the consideration of another person’s point of view
- Compassion, at its root, is a desire to see others happy and a readiness to take action to help it happen
- When we are able to put ourselves in the other person’s shoes, we can take a fresh look at a challenging situation
Stretch people to see their potential
- When we practice wise compassion by bringing more of our humanity to our leadership, we can create a culture in which others increase their focus on real human connections
- As leaders, we should never underestimate the impact we have on people
- We have the power to control their livelihood. We have power over how they feel treated
Listen intently
- When you truly listen to others, they feel heard and seen, which satisfies one of our primary needs as humans
- If you can listen intently, with an open mind and a willingness to learn, you will become wiser, and you can genuinely help others
Ask yourself, how can I be of benefit?
- There is no way to compassion; compassion is the way
- Reflecting before you meet someone will help you create a more human interaction focused on their growth and development
- Ask yourself: What support might they need to overcome their struggles? What nudge might they needed to gain more self-awareness about their blind spots that are creating difficulties?
