Over the course of 15 years as you can imagine I have done quite a number of things and had the pleasure of working at a few different organisations. In doing so, have learnt and experienced a fair amount. I have travelled to the Far East, all over Europe and North America with my work, have had the pleasure of experiencing great people, cultures, good wine and better food.
I have worked in the charity sector (I still have a part of my work that still anchors me there, as a NED for a charity that helps women and children who are victims of domestic violence). In the public sector (British national health service) and the corporate sector. From the outside none of these sectors have anything in common. From the inside however they all have something in common.
The things that drain and cause so much angst and stress. The politics and the way in which people are treated and speak to one another which is absolutely unacceptable.
I have trained sales people and coached key account directors in agencies. With the core of every training/coaching session incorporating compassion for humanity. Seeing people as people and not just wheels in a cog.
One of my biggest gripes is when anyone thinks they are better or less than someone else. I have in my life been dealt a pretty good hand. My parents worked hard for my brother and I to get the best education they could afford for us. As an adult I continued to invest in my development and further education. I have been fortunate enough to earn a good living and fly business class for pleasure, stay in 5 starred hotels. It wasn't always like that and I remain grounded by some of the humbling and hard experiences I have had. I do not take anything for granted. No one is better than me and I am not better than anyone else.
If you can treat your staff and the people around you as an equal human being. From your cleaning staff, to the C-Level and the board then you really are a very successful human.
There are so many different classes of society and among those, there will obviously be those who clearly just understand you more than others. That still does not give you or anyone else the right to treat all the other class of people with disdain or malaise.
Work is stressful, dealing with clients is stressful, mergers and acquisitions are stressful, appraisals are a stressful time, hiring and firing staff is stressful. Wouldn't it be wonderful if instead of being arseholes (sorry for offending anyone, but yes I said it) to one another we actually learned how to communicate with compassion. To be able to be honest and voice how we feel without putting someone down, or making them feel bad about themselves.
The beginning of the process of compassionate communication and ultimately culture change within an organisation starts with self awareness. After that this awareness need to extend out to the field. To the people around you. And then to the wider field the impact and effect to your community, country, planet.
If we all manage to learn to communicate with compassion and actually do it. It's free a our time and energy to focus on things that matter. Like getting the tasks done, focusing on family, being more loving, patient and looking after our planet.
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