Leaducator: November 2022
Barry Lewis Green
I am an Educator, Speaker, Coach, Writer, and Creator ... advancing high functioning Purpose and Unity through elevated conversations, capacities and Character. Let's move forward together, stronger.
In the October Issue of The Leaducator, I offered up some thought around 5 E's of Education... and I drew particular attention to the 3 E's of Empathy, Enthusiasm and Excellence. I also noted that "In our next issue, we will explore more on these three...?Empathy,?Enthusiasm?and?Excellence... in particular." I am now opting to examine one per month, a little more surgically.
Introducing Empathy
First, let me say that I do not buy into the notion that some people are Empaths and others are not. Empathy is a Virtue that can be developed, with practice. Do some people have a predilection for such? Maybe even increased natural capacity? Certainly. I suggest nature and nurture are both at play. But no one has a monopoly nor oligopoly on any Virtue. They are available to us all, in practice... and practice make permanent. And Empathy, in particular, is an integral part of our Emotional Intelligence which we can each and all further develop.
Exploring Empathy
Check out this RSA ANIMATE: The Empathic Civilisation. Turns out, we are soft wired for Empathy. We feel empathic distress and joy alike. Empathy is an "invisible hand" for us to touch and be touched in the best of ways.
What if we saw our classrooms or companies or communities as filled with "fellow sojourners" learning together? What if we sought to better understand each other's experience, listened with greater Compassion, refrained from knee jerk judgement and shame and blaming, thought about our impacts on others, better cared about others, and built stronger connection? What would that look like in practice? Would it open doors to learning? As a longtime Educator, I suggest a wholehearted YES. What if we practiced a robust and healthy sense of Curiosity?
What if we moved out of our boxes? Moved beyond our perceived genetic identities? At school, work, business and community. What might that look like? How might Empathy serve as a power for dialogue and learning and moving forward together, stronger?
This is not about kumbaya. It is about building powerful foundations for learning and growth. It is about working together for a better world, locally and globally. We are about to be some 8 billion different humans on the planet... and counting; yet the same. Yes, this month of November 2022, we are expected to reach 8 billion. When I was a child that number was 3.33 billion as I recall. Personally, I see 8 billion people as opportunity more so than challenge. Indeed and in deed ... that is a large part of our focus with #hUmaNITY and TUGtv to be honest... learning from and with each other. That is what I mean by A PEACE of WORK and it is a deep part of part of my own sense of Purpose.
Reflect on Empathy and its practice. How might you ever better practice same at home, school, work, business or community? As a Leaducator... … in the classroom, understanding the impact and opportunity you have to affect the world in all arenas of human endeavor… through your teaching and your capacity to lead, inspire, educate and unite; to be?that?teacher who makes such a difference.... how might a heightened and focused practice of Empathy better advance your capacity to unite and inspire? How can it help build a better future for us all? Empathy, it is a strength of Character and Unity. Draw upon it.
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On the other hand, I?am an Activant too; an Educator and Entrepreneur by experience, education and?Enthusiasm... with 40 years in leadership training and development, 27 years in business college education and 20 years certified and associated with?The Virtues Project. Additionally certified for 16 years in?Temperament?Assessment and with a longstanding body of work around Character Leadership, I help advance?conversation, consultation and capacity around?Character,?Purpose?and?Unity...?and?the?global goals. My work in business and education is to help those building a better world at school, work, business and community; locally and globally.?Humans together, strong.... that is?my?meaning... and?the space I can stay forever. To that?just cause, I commit.