Searching For Praxis - part #3

Choose Empathy, Compassion, And Loving Kindness

Another element of the praxis is to understand, and then choose to live and lead with empathy, compassion, and loving kindness. Over many decades of doing this work, the leaders I have admired the most in my career have been the ones who have role modeled empathy, compassion, and loving kindness. This choice did not mean that they didn’t make hard and complicated decisions. It’s just that they did not strip people of their dignity in the process of making difficult or complex decisions, and they did not act in a disrespectful manner when people were struggling as these decisions, strategic or operational, were executed. They also did not tolerate anyone who choose to act in an inappropriate, or disrespectful manner with others. 

Yet, within this important choice about how to lead, is an element often missed by many people. In order to lead and role model empathy, compassion, and loving kindness, these amazing leaders embrace the journey of learning, unlearning, and relearning. They recognize that outer behaviors always reflect the inner journey. They recognize that this in-depth work takes great courage, because it requires us to routinely re-evaluate our world view and to expand our world view. It requires us to look in the mirror and out the window, referencing the work of Jim Collins in his book, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap. . . and Others Don’t, (HarperBusiness, 2001). 

At the same time, and because of this combination of learning, unlearning, and relearning, they gain in-depth self-knowledge which helps them be more fully present and focused when engaging with others. For in the end, these leaders understand that translating an intangible into a tangible begins with the connections we make. And it is these connections that generate the trust and the capacity to rise to the seen and unseen problems that surface each and every day. 

But, there is another element to their choice. These amazing leaders recognize that given current events and the constant rapidly changing adaptive environment that we find ourselves in each and every day, many people react by trying to move at hyper speed. The outcome of this choice is typically two fold. First, they become hyper vigilant and perceive everything and everyone as a threat. Second, they give everyone and every thing their partial attention. As a result, they miss many key elements, and many bits of information. 

However, these amazing leaders, who walk the praxis in a thoughtful manner, do not do this. Instead of choosing hyper vigilance or partial attention, they seek hyper depth in their connections and in their understanding. Because they are constantly choosing to learn, unlearning, and relearn, they do not default to just know about issues, ideas, or people. Instead, they seek depth and understanding. In essence, they focus on the hidden wholeness, rather than the default choose of living, leading and working from a place of inner and outer fragmentation. And because they do this, the integrity of their empathy, compassion, and loving kindness is true and heart felt. People always  notice this, and respond accordingly. The praxis they walk is both the path and the destination when this happens. 

To be continued tomorrow. 

© Geery Howe 2026

Geery Howe, M.A. Executive Coach in Leadership, Strategic Planning, and Organizational Change