The Needs of Followers: COMPASSION
Colossians 3:12-14
Gallup’s research on the needs of followers discovered that COMPASSION is another element employees desire. It’s the feeling that their manager and/or leader genuinely cares about them as a person.
Through their research, Gallup assessed that employees who believe they are cared for are more likely to:
Experiment with new ideas
Be advocates for their employer
Support coworkers personally and professionally
Feel equipped to strike a balance between their work and professional lives.
Conversely, their research showed that a perceived lack of compassion from their leader has a negative effect on the performance of an organization. Leaders that are physically distant, not attentive to emotional cues and too busy to maintain intentional connection are at risk of being viewed as non-compassionate.
Q: Would those in your organization consider you to be a compassionate leader? Why or why not?
There have been several times in my career when I have been the recipient of compassion.
I can recall a specific time when my father was tragically killed in a car accident the evening prior to starting a new job. I showed up to work that next morning ready to ask for time off to deal with the tragedy but also hoping the job would still be available to me when I returned. The Publisher of the news organization heard what had happened and quickly took the lead. He sought me out, found me and expressed his concern for me as a person and encouraged me to take as much time as needed. The job would still be here for me when I returned. His compassion still resonates with me even today.
In another instance, I can recall making a mistake that ended up costing the organization over $250,000 as they forgave a bad debt due to a misunderstanding I had unknowingly caused. My superior at the time was anything but happy. However, he knew this situation was unintentional, used it as a teaching moment, and encouraged me to “go and sin no more”!
In both scenarios, the leaders chose to refrain from expressing and acting on their “rights” but chose to respond with compassion. These situations became foundational and influential to me as I developed as a leader over the course of my career.
Q: When, in your past, have you been shown compassion? How has that experience helped shape you as a leader?
I recently heard a definition of compassion as “making a human connection with someone”. I like that definition. I would also add that expressing compassion is “the absence of judgement in favour of building a stronger relationship.”
In both examples listed above I responded with loyalty to the leader and a deeper commitment to the organization. They saw a value in me that went deeper than my situation or mistakes. I worked hard to show my appreciation for their compassion towards me.
As we read the scriptures, we see many examples of compassion. Looking at just a couple of them from Jesus himself, we see his compassion:
With the woman at the well (John 4:1-42)
When healing the official’s son (John 4:43-53)
Toward the woman with a blood disorder (Luke 8:43-48)
Given to the woman that was being stoned (John 8:1-11)
Take some time right now to read one (or all) of these accounts and specifically look for Christ’s examples of choosing compassion over judgement.
In each situation, he saw beyond his tasks and duties and took a moment to make a specific connection with each person. He didn’t use his position as Son of God to cast judgement but rather chose to meet them at their need and engaged with them in a way that left them forever changed.
Q: In what specific ways has God shown compassion to you? In what ways has God used you to show HIS compassion to others? Give examples.
Colossians 3:12-14 (NIV)
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Perhaps you are currently dealing with a situation in which you feel justified to act with judgement and immediate discipline of an employee. Before “going there”, push pause. Take a moment and consider if compassion is an option.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I praise you for your amazing qualities. I humbly thank you for the times you have expressed compassion to me and refrained from immediate judgement and consequence. I pray that I would seek to follow your example and allow compassion to be part of my leadership presence this week. Give me opportunity to show YOUR compassion to others. Amen.
Blessings always and all-ways,
Steve Shrout
President
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your own Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development and SPIRITUAL growth.
