“There is a trough in waves, a low spot where the horizon
disappears and only sky and water are our company. And there we lose our way unless we
rest…” (Trough, By Judy Brown)
In our journey as leaders, we experience crests (our
accomplishments and successes) as well as troughs (our disappointments and
failures). Neither is inescapable. As I was reading this poem, I was thinking
about how I often find myself wanting to fill in the ‘trough’ of others. I ask,
how I can help those at a seemingly low point of their leadership journey?
I believe the answer is simple – and it falls in line with
the ending of Trough;
“…If we rest there, in the trough, in the silence, being
with the low part of the wave…time alone will bring us to another place where
we can see the horizon, see the land again, regain our sense of where we are,
and where we need to swim to.”
As leaders, we need to recognize that each individual has
the sole responsibility to ‘rest’ and ‘see the land again’. They, with the help of time will be brought
back to the crest. However, as empathic leaders, we can be of great and
significant service. We can provide in
the same way lighthouses serve passing ships in the night. Leaders who employ
empathy are beacons of light. These
leaders serve as guides to those lost at sea and help struggling wayfarers get
to a better place.
Empathic leaders are present and attentive to when others
are deep within troughs. Our presence
and attention provides hope and inspiration.
Asking questions of meaning, purposefully listening, or sitting in
silence with the person in need is a great way to show empathy. By doing so, we can better understand the
experience from their
perspective. We are then prepared to respond
in a supportive way – the way we would want to be responded to in that
situation.
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