You can MASTER the Power of 40 Seconds -- and become a kick-ass compassionate leader.
You'd be wrong to think you don't have the time to add this vital leadership tool.
Compassion will help you connect to your team in ways that will surprise you.
And it only takes 40 seconds.
You can lead from your head AND your heart.
People need to feel --
☑️ safe
☑️ seen and heard
☑️ understood
☑️ emotionally connected
☑️ respected
☑️ accepted
And it will only take you 40 seconds to release your super power.
Yes, that's it.
Researchers from Johns Hopkins University found strong evidence that doctors who took an extra 40 SECONDS to show extra compassion to their cancer patients saw a HUGE reduction in their anxiety about their diagnosis.
Just by offering some short and simple words of encouragement and support goes a looooong way.
Reducing anxiety is a critically important outcome for cancer patients.
The Power of 40 Seconds can boost your leadership, too — helping to reduce overall anxiety in your team culture.
You can offer compassion to your team members and help reduce their anxiety and be more creative and innovative.
When feeling your compassion, your team will be more --
☑️ focused
☑️ energized
☑️ motivated
☑️ inspired
☑️ creative
☑️ innovative
☑️ collaborative
By spending just 40 SECONDS being more compassionate, you'll see more happiness and joy in your team culture and deeper connections between everyone.
You'll see less turnover and more loyalty to the team and positive outcomes!
Your compassion begins with empathy -- being able to feel what someone else is feeling.
Not just noticing their emotion -- that's sympathy -- but actually finding someplace inside yourself that feels what the other person is feeling.
Empathy is connecting with another’s feelings -- compassion is your behavior from that emotional connection.
To be more compassionate, you can say things like --
👉 “I can see how important this is to you”
👉 “I know this can be frustrating”
👉 “Let’s see if we can solve this together”
👉 “I’d like to help you if I can”
You want to send the message that not only do you understand their feelings, but you also share their emotion.
Spend a shared emotional moment with someone and you will be connected to them in a much deeper way.
Other ways to become a more compassionate leader --
🌟 Self awareness, self reflection and self compassion. How do others perceive how you communicate with them? You can reflect on how you interact -- most importantly the words you use -- when interacting with your team.
🌟 Adjust your communication -- both verbal and nonverbal -- language. You can be more empathic in all ways that you communicate with your team.
🌟 Be authentic and share your shortcomings and mistakes. People will feel more comfortable with you if they see you as vulnerable (a STRENGTH!) Get off your pedestal and show your team that you're a real person with real struggles -- just like them. It's NOT your job to be better than everyone else.
🌟 Appreciate and VALUE the thoughts and ideas of others. Get out of your own head! Clear your mind and put your own thoughts on pause so you can hear and value the thoughts of others.
🌟 Create an emotionally safe team culture. You want your team to think creatively, outside the box and be motivated to contribute to the team. You can create a culture where everyone feels empowered and supported to try new things and take risks – even if they make mistakes and things don’t go as planned. If mistakes are made, they know they won’t be unfairly chastised or punished – and the team can use challenges as learning experiences and move on.
🌟 Care for your employees as PEOPLE. Get to know them on a different level. You can become interested in what they’re interested in, and ask them what they need from you. Find ways to show them that you “always have their back.” Check in with team members about their weekend or a particular important event for them.
🌟 “Hold space” for your team with Active Listening. Most people are hungry to be listened to – with acceptance and without judgement or suggestion. Maybe you think listening is just waiting for your turn to talk. Stop thinking while someone is talking to you. Just connect with what they are feeling – empathy – and find ways to reflect back what you’re hearing. Creating safe spaces and safe relationships is the foundation of compassion.
🌟 Encourage healthy two-way feedback. Giving compassionate feedback to members of your team will empower them to nurture their growth mindset – celebrating strengths and successes and learning from mistakes and understanding growth areas. You can be compassionate while also holding team members accountable for their performance. Also, you can hear feedback from your team to you more as coaching – rather than criticism.
You can master becoming a more compassionate leader and help your team thrive.
And it starts with just an extra 40 SECONDS of your time.
Boost your focus, motivation, passion, inspiration, resilience and grit 💪 —