Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It

Learning to stand in somebody else's shoes, to see through their eyes, that's how peace begins. And it's up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world. - Barack Obama

I’ve never been one who demonstrates empathy very well.  I care for people…it’s just that I’m sometimes clueless about what’s going on with them.  A couple of years ago, we were making some significant changes to our HR organization.  In fact, we were changing a 15-year service delivery model that had served us very well…it was just no longer sustainable with resource constraints we were facing.  I knew team members would struggle with it.

So, I picked up a copy of Travis Bradberry’s Emotional Intelligence 2.0, which included a self-assessment.  Not surprisingly, one of my lowest scores was “social awareness”—your ability to accurately pick up on emotions in other people and get what is really going on. The assessment pointed out that I miss non-verbal cues and can fail to spot the mood in the room.  How true!  I remember my former boss and mentor, Natalie often asking after a meeting, “Did you see what was going on between those two leaders?”  I’d respond, “Natalie, the bubble above my head is generally blank, unless people are talking.”  Then, I listen to what is being said…but I’ve had to work on listen to what is not being said and catching the mood in the room.

Fortunately, Roman Krznaric’s book Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It gives some practical suggestions to leaders like me.

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The Salvation Army on Mercy, Compassion, & Leadership

Every year on Labor Day—the first Monday in September—we celebrate the contributions and achievements of American workers.  The Labor Movement started the celebration in the 19th century, and it became a federal holiday in 1894.

As we consider the fifth Beatitude—Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy—what organization exemplifies this more than The Salvation Army?

As its web site says, “The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.”

In fact, The Salvation Army notes that it exists to meet human need wherever, whenever, and however it can.

A few years ago, I listened to Leadership Secrets of the Salvation Army by Robert A. Watson on the way home from the Christian Leadership Alliance’s Outcomes Conference.

The Salvation Army’s secrets to organization success are certainly worth considering this Labor Day.

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