—Brené Brown
The skinny
Uncertainty is the biggest fall trend this year. Are we headed for recession? What’s SeptemberSurge? Will we finally see the end of inflation? With so much in flux right now, finding empathy during transitional times is the key to staying connected—with yourself and your people.
Emphasis on "Empathy"
In case you need a refresher, Brené Brown has one of the best explanations of empathy. Rather than offering sympathy from a distance, making a genuine connection based on understanding where the other person is at is a transformative skill to invest in.
Practice makes progress
Empathy is the not-so-new table stakes for organizational culture. While the seasons may shift, consistency is key to meeting people where they’re at, from their best to their not-so-great. Your efforts don’t need to make a big splash—sometimes simple gestures, like setting up a coffee chat or starting meetings with a story from your personal life is enough to build connection and encourage others to build their own empathy habits.
Psychic abilities?
No one can be a fortune teller, but predicting change, communicating about it early, and staying nimble in response to it is a valuable strategy. When individuals and teams are made aware of potential changes in advance, they can be proactive, and navigate transitions more smoothly. The empathetic aspect of this crucial, because simply recognizing that change can be unsettling and disruptive for people is an act of empathy in itself. And by taking that first step, you and your workforce are better equipped to handle that change and get whatever support is necessary.
Knowing the difference
The role of empathy in a time of transition can be boiled down to human-to-human connection. Remember that the person on the other side of the screen, or working alongside you, is a human too. You can still be professional while being a good human. Keep that in mind as you think about year-end planning. As the proverb says, accept the things you cannot change, have courage to change the things you can, and most importantly—the wisdom to know the difference.
