When was the last time you stepped outside and inhaled deeply? Perhaps you can recall a time you let your toes be tickled by grass, or stood in awe at the base of a mountain wall made of stone, craning your neck to see the blue sky. When was the last time gravel crunched under your feet, or a babbling brook laughed as it gurgled on by, while you sat, simply watching on stones nearby? We’ve made another trip around the sun and arrived at Earth Day once again. Today, and every day, we hope to remember to take pause to acknowledge the amazing globe on which we live and the role we play in sustain ..read more

From the moment we wake, demands lie at our fingertips. Headlines reach out to us in all capital letters and videos cause our stomachs to lurch. It’s tempting to scroll and tune out when paying attention can be overwhelming. And in the noise, a multitude of voices remind us that the time for compassion is now. We’re not strangers to the threats present to both humanity and the planet. The impacts of climate change, social injustice, and war and the suffering these forces are causing are very present. This is not the story we want to tell our grandchildren. Story arcs remind us of a hero’s jour ..read more

Ladders. Jungle Gyms. Plateaus. Mountain tops. All of these nouns are used to describe the things we can climb in our professional and personal journeys. The dots from here to there connect our choices and create our stories, both for ourselves and the organizations we steward. Like small children on a playground, we find ourselves wondering where, when, and what to climb. We’re told from a young age that we’re supposed to get to the top. Many cultures celebrate upward movement with increasing levels of responsibility, corresponding titles, and the ability to consume more. We are taught to fol ..read more

This is the third post in our series about the truths found in polarities. Click to read the first one, Balancing Structure and Freedom, and the second one, Nurturing Plus Courageous Compassion. We find ourselves at a unique time in history with pressures pushing in on us on multiple levels. For those who feel deeply and those seeking to make positive impacts, we know the pressure is both an overwhelming force and an invitation to explore yet another aspect of both/and spaces. We’ve been peeling back the truths found in polarities over the last few weeks, and continue in our series. This week ..read more

At the start of our programs, we ask participants what their curiosities are around compassion. We know each of us come into compassion work with different histories and definitions of what compassion means to us. We like to know what experiences and definitions are informing the group. We define compassion as the awareness of suffering of others coupled with the desire to alleviate the suffering and remove the causes of suffering. Awareness + Connecting + Empathy + Action = Compassion There is consistent curiosity about whether one can be a strong leader while leading with compassion. The fre ..read more

As the world continues to get more complex, we, as humans, grapple with ways to make sense of our place in its complexity. Our multiple roles are constantly changing as the landscape, too, constantly changes. The temptation to think of situations as black/white or either/or is strong. And, as we practice moving towards ‘both/and’ thinking, our way of being in the world can expand. Humans are programmed to seek clear answers, and when we turn towards nuance and invite “yes, and…” into our responses as leaders, there are more opportunities for richness and compassion in the choices that better s ..read more

Early in the calendar year leaders traditionally turn to implementing new annual plans. We coordinate conversations about strategy, goals, metrics, and outcomes. These organizational patterns outline ways to measure ourselves, our teams, and our work with high bars and expectations. Competition and risk assessment remind us how we will win. Our strong goal orientation and discomfort with change keeps us focused on the plans we’ve made even after the world shifts. We have a tendency to grip tightly to older visions of success and cling to “the plan”, often dragging others along with us. Despite ..read more

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. Then, we will be in position to choose the action available to us. Trusting that our compassionate actions will ripple out into our community and beyond to create the difference we seek helps keep us inspired ..read more

At the Center for Compassionate Leadership, we have the privilege of supporting the spread of organizational compassion in different settings and circumstances all around the globe. Compassionate leaders who recognize the shared common humanity of everyone they work with, and the value of cooperation and collaboration, are creating organizations that contribute to individual flourishing and positive organizational performance. Organizations that prioritize compassion, safety, connection, and belonging are still in the minority and countercultural to our traditional organizational and belief sy ..read more

What do we think of when we think of enemies? We all understand opposites and how they pull in directions that conflict with and are hostile to each other. It isn’t only opposites that can undermine your efforts. Consider the idea of a “near enemy” – something that seems like it should support an intention but actually weakens it. When it comes to compassionate leadership, there are plenty of near enemies. Let’s begin our exploration with four near enemies of compassionate leadership: intellectualizing, assimilation, judgment, and fixing. Intellectualizing Compassionate Leadership Is the Near ..read more