Too hard or too soft? It’s not a pillow questionโit’s about leadership style.
An effective leader knows how to combine assertiveness with empathy.
Assertiveness doesn’t mean being harsh; it’s about finding the right balance between passivity and aggression.
Empathy isn’t about just accepting everything – it’s about truly understanding and sharing someone else’s feelings.
A 2500-year-old practice I’ve grown to love for increasing empathy and compassion is ‘Metta’, or ‘loving-kindness’ meditation.
I was skeptical at first, but integrating it into my routine increased my empathy and changed how I connect with others.
How to practice ‘๐ ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฎ’?
๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฎ ๐ค๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ผ๐: Sit comfortably, close your eyes.
๐ฉ๐ถ๐๐๐ฎ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ผ๐บ๐ฒ๐ผ๐ป๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ฏ๐ผ๐๐: Start by picturing your best friend. Wish them health, happiness, and well-being. Connect with these feelings.
๐๐
๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฌ๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ: Gradually move to someone neutral, like a helpful store clerk, and then to someone you have difficulties with or don’t like.
๐ช๐ถ๐๐ต ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐บ ๐ช๐ฒ๐น๐น: Remember, this isnโt just for them; itโs for enhancing your own emotional powers.
By practicing these steps, you’re strengthening your empathy muscle by creating stronger neural pathways for compassion and empathy in your brain.
Interested in mastering both assertive and empathetic leadership?
Letโs chat about how these skills can transform your approach and help you lead more effectively.