Transcultural Caravan ’s Post

Empathy. Such an underrated and often overlooked leadership accelerator. But let’s be real - empathy isn’t easy. It asks us to step into someone else’s shoes, which is no small feat when we all have such different lived experiences. A wise friend once shared something with me that really stuck: “I don’t have the lived experience to weigh in on that,” she said, and then quickly followed up with, “Help me understand what it feels like for you?” That right there is empathy in action. Even when you don’t fully get what someone’s going through, you can still connect by showing a genuine interest in their experience. You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Meet them where they live.” It sounds simple - it’s just five words - but it’s more complex than it seems. So what does it really mean? Not in the literal sense (we’re not showing up at people’s doors unannounced - that would be weird), but in the figurative sense. Meeting someone where they live means understanding their perspective, recognizing their challenges, and adjusting your approach to truly connect. It’s the acknowledgment that everyone’s journey is different. Good leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all - it’s about tailoring your support and communication to where each person is, emotionally and mentally. Empathy has served me well in leadership, both in leading my own teams and in coaching other leaders. There are plenty of times where our teams will take an approach we typically wouldn’t take, or react differently than we would in situations. Rather than condemning them for not doing things our way, empathy allows us to understand why they took that path. It opens the door to better communication, stronger relationships, and ultimately, better outcomes. So next time you hear “Meet them where they live,” take a moment to think about what it really means. It’s not just a catchy phrase - it’s our opportunity to connect, to understand, and to lead with heart.

A team of SKS Consultants had the great opportunity to present at the 2024 Div 13 Society of Consulting Psychology annual event in Austin, Texas. The SKS session titled “New Leaders’ Organizational Integration” was engaging, informative and was given to a ‘standing-room-only’ crowd. Here’s a snapshot of what the SKS experts shared:   “Whether related to a specific challenge, a particular situation, or simply in an effort to elevate a high potential individual to the next level, consulting psychologists have long worked with leaders in the context of development. A critical component of this leadership development work is the creation of a plan – one which is meaningful, high impact, and, perhaps most importantly, realistic and sustainable. Given our deep understanding of human behavior and organizational dynamics, consulting psychologists are well positioned to guide leaders through the process of putting together a plan for their own development. This session explores a model for engaging in leadership development planning, including pre-planning assessments and feedback, an exploration of individual factors as well as the implications of organizational context, the identification of clear goals, and the related thoughts, feelings, and behavior changes required in order that movement towards those goals is not only possible, but probable.”   Great work Dr. Nathan Whittier, Dr. Jennifer Shepard, PsyD, MBA, Dr. Katie Pesch!

Check out my contribution in today's Forbes Expert Panel article, "How To Practice Empathy And Boost EQ: 17 Leadership Tips." "Be Mindful Of Each Individual’s Full Experience: Focus on understanding each person’s individual experiences, challenges and needs, rather than task-based updates. By actively listening, without judgment, and reflecting back what they hear, leaders can better appreciate different perspectives, enabling more considerate decisions that strengthen engagement and productivity across the organization through improved emotional intelligence."

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems.” James Clear Having goals and good intentions is not enough. Whether it’s living purposefully or leading the successful execution of an organisation’s strategy,  you need a system or framework to make progress and a supporting environment to sustain results. Using a Balanced Scorecard to manage strategy increases the likelihood of successful execution by 70%. Creating a system to develop habits over time to align with your aspirations and values delivers ‘atomic’ results. Developing a guiding coalition is critical to delivering and maintaining transformational change. Global organisations spend more than US$80 bn annually on leadership programmes. Leadership development can have a substantial positive impact on employees and employers, but in many cases, organisations and individuals fail to realise their true potential. Participants experience learning and growth at an event or during a programme but fail to translate these into agency and enduring transformational outcomes in their personal and professional lives. One way to close this execution gap is to focus on whole-person growth, transforming how leaders lead and live in line with their purpose and values. The Homeward Bound leadership initiative aims to elevate the impact of STEMM women and empower them to shape, lead and influence better outcomes for our future. It is a year-long online leadership programme that culminates in an experiential component - for the last ten years, this has been an expedition to Antarctica - and builds a global community that works together to have a collective impact. Homeward Bound uses the whole-of-life Personal Strategy approach to provide a clear framework for converting participant insights into choices and actions, building a system of new behaviours and habits. The Life Styles Inventory coaching supports participants to improve their leadership effectiveness through more constructive thinking and behaviours. There is space for self-reflection and meaning-making. The focus is on the practice of leadership. The ‘convergence’ community creates a collaborative coalition of like-minded leaders learning and leading for the greater good. The impact stories from the HB participants testify to the sustained results. The ninth cohort of participants (pictured) is launching into the Leading Self Phase of the programme this week. I am excited to be on the journey with them as Lead Facilitator along with my exceptional faculty, supported by the HB organisation. I’m immensely grateful to be a part of this amazing initiative and to play a small part in empowering over 800 extraordinary women to fulfil their potential and change the world for the better. How will you increase the return on investment from your leadership programme? #homewardboundprojects #strategytogether #leadershipdevelopment #personalstrategy #humansynergistics #atomichabits

💡 How To Empower Your Team with Compassionate Leadership 💡   Early on in my career, I learned connection and communication were my most critical abilities.   These skills are vital in any role, acting as a compass through life's unexpected twists and turns.   Both our personal & professional lives are often deeply interconnected; what happens to us in our personal lives can often spill across into the workplace.   Experiences & core beliefs learned in childhood are often the foundation for who we see ourselves within the world around us.   Understanding this interconnectedness is crucial, especially when a business leader wants to inspire & uplift their team.   ✨Which emotion exerts the most profound influence on our lives?   Love, fear, and happiness are all contenders, but often overlooked is "compassion". In the maze of life's challenges, compassion guides our interactions, shining a light on our human experience.   When infused into leadership, it transforms into Compassionate Leadership, a style that values empathy, collaboration, and genuine care for both individuals and communities.   I've always aspired to lead through:   🔶 inspiration and empowerment 🔶 fostering strong relationships 🔶 confidence and capability   This positive approach, driven by passion, has proven to be the key to success. Compassion and authentic relationships serve as a reliable guide for everyone, whether a leader, employee, or changemaker, especially in challenging times. With a firm hand on the rudder, we stay on course when things are rough and uncertain. Read More in my blog: #compassion #leadership #growth #performance Center for Compassionate Leadership Abri Holden Evan Harrel Laura Berland

This article published by the Center for Creative Leadership is packed with great insights, including this one on cultivating external self-awareness: "The key to soliciting and responding to feedback is to stay curious. Being genuinely curious about how your actions affect others can move you from feeling closed and defensive to feeling open and willing to seek knowledge. Curiosity feeds self-awareness and invites people to help you in your development." https://lnkd.in/gEGRqiT4 #ServantLeadership #EQ #EI #EmotionalIntelligence #Curiosity #SelfAwareness #SelfCare #SelfReflection

🎫 *NEW EVENT: Another way - redesigning leadership* 🎫 11 Jun 2024, 09:30 – 17:00 Henley Business School, Greenlands, Henley-on-Thames RG9 3AU, UK Client Talk and Athena Professional are coming together to help you redefine leadership. The current model of leadership worked with what is now an increasingly outdated model of an ideal worker. The ideal worker norm is defined as someone unencumbered by responsibilities outside of work. They are available continuously and full-time. Increasingly the ideal worker norm is coming under pressure and being shown to be a fallacy. What is seen in systems that are created with this outdated model is a lack of female progression into leadership roles. Women often make other positive choices rather than pursuing partnership. As a result, capability and experience are lost and the system itself remains unchallenged. What if the women who have chosen to say no are hiding a secret that might just burst the bubble that has sustained the system for so long? *What are we offering?* In this one-day retreat, we are going to provide participants with the opportunity to examine the systems they are in, their place within that system, and the changes that they can make to redesign leadership. We will consider the trajectory of the sector and the demands change creates for leaders. Participants will come away with: ✴️ New insights about the pressures of leadership in transition from traditional paradigms to new ways of working. ✴️ Clarity about how diversity and human skills contribute to business success. ✴️ An understanding of relational energy and how to can demonstrate leadership skills which are “contagious” in your business. ✴️ Motivation to engage with the moral and commercial imperatives to promote an inclusive, positive and healthy work culture. ✴️ Ways to use individual agency to create change. *What's included?* We have designed a retreat experience to help you reflect and explore ways for you to connect and create cohesion differently. Participants will get: 📙 A programme designed for leaders who want to do things differently, drawing on the latest research 📙 Group coaching from some of the country's leading coaches 📙 Pre and post-retreat virtual sessions 📙 The opportunity to reflect and learn in a center of excellence, Henley Business School *Who for?* Men and women, who want to uncover a different way of leading. Perhaps you want to uncover how to bring feminine energy to leadership (this applies to men and women!). Perhaps you want the confidence to do things differently. Perhaps you are looking to change the system. Perhaps you are looking to change the way you show up. This retreat is for you! To book your place visit https://buff.ly/4d0DyjR or get in touch at info@clienttalk.co.uk for further information. #training #leadershiptraining #trainingforleaders #redesigningleadership #athenaprofessional #clienttalk

The Ark of Leadership: An Integrative Perspectives Leadership is a complex phenomenon. It is not just complicated (with many parts) but also complex (with all of the parts interacting with one another). The Ark of Leadership is the first to provide a portrait of leadership in which the interweaving of the many parts is conveyed, and the implications of this interweaving are traced. The Ark of Leadership provides the foundation for any leadership development initiative, given that the three authors, with more than 100 combined years of experience in leadership development and executive coaching, have portrayed leadership from multiple perspectives, traced out the implications of each perspective, and offered guidance regarding how to foster and development leadership in many different settings. A brief review of the book is provided at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gUTwaXCu A sample chapter is provided as the following link: https://lnkd.in/gcQJfG9G An annotated table of contents is provided at the following link: https://lnkd.in/gS5hHnvz The book may be purchased at: https://lnkd.in/e3WXMnVg #leadership #leadershipstyle #legacyleadership #situationalleadership #ronaldheifetz

Unlock Your Leadership Potential with the Power of Imagery! In today's fast-paced world, effective leadership goes beyond just making decisions—it's about connecting with your team on a deeper level. Imagine being able to navigate high-pressure situations with calmness, clarity, and empathy. This latest article by Jon Rhodes, PhD dives into how imagery can enhance your emotional intelligence and transform your leadership style. Discover how top executives have harnessed the power of mental rehearsal to build trust, foster collaboration, and inspire their teams. Key Takeaways: Learn how imagery enhances empathy and self-awareness. Explore techniques for handling difficult conversations with emotional balance. Understand the science behind imagery and its impact on performance. Are you ready to elevate your leadership game? Read the full article below, or visit our website to start your journey towards becoming a more empathetic and effective leader! #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Imagery #Empathy #ProfessionalDevelopment #LeadershipPresence #MentalRehearsal https://lnkd.in/gwyVaNNp

“In today's dynamic and intricate world, effective leadership necessitates a blend of diverse skills and attributes. Among these, critical thinking and empathy emerge as crucial. These two skills, often perceived as opposites, are in fact complementary and, when combined, generate a potent synergy that can revolutionize leadership. Let’s look at how leaders can integrate critical thinking and empathy, illustrating that these two skills can mutually reinforce each other, enhancing leadership effectiveness.”