The 12 Days of Compassion continue here in Metro Vancouver, and this has presented me with some great opportunities to witness leadership on a daily basis. For example, the patient and diligent work of one of the members of the organizing team. An engineer by trade, his amazing skill of identifying the constituent parts of a situation and then mapping out the steps to mitigate, alleviate or ‘fix’ problems, is brilliant to behold. Another person, a quiet and soft spoken soul, who is so well respected and  connected in the communities that a simple call or email from her gets doors opened immediately. She is a human and far more gracious ‘Linked In’. I’ve also noticed the leadership emerging in young people. For example, I was speaking with a young man last evening, and as I told him how much I’d enjoyed working with him and his colleagues, I said, ‘you know, every encounter I’ve had here has been great, every person here was wonderful.” He said, “I wonder how much that has to do your attitude as well.” I thought, wise words, it is all about reciprocity.

And then today, a follow up conversation with a business leader who is interested learning more about compassion and the impact it has in the working parts of our lives. She said; “compassion to me is 80% of people working in work they love.” What a great image! She continued, “you know if you’re not happy in your work, you’re not going to be able to do much more than scrape together stuff for yourself. If you are happy in your work, you’re going to be more interested in going outside of yourself.” I was reflecting on the CEOs with whom I’ve been working this week, and how each of them was in fact doing what they were called to do. They had a flow, they had a sense of strength and courage about them, in  large part, I suggest because they were doing what they were called to do. Working in work they love.

So, for us as leaders in organizations, especially those of us fortunate enough to be doing what we love to do on a daily basis; perhaps we might ask ourselves, how can I facilitate opportunities for the people in this organization, or in this department to work at what they love? How can I support the creation of places where others experience the flow the strength and courage that I get every day working at what I love. And if you are reading this, and thinking to yourself, “I don’t actually love the work I do, I’d rather be doing something else.” That may be a very important exploration for you to go on, both for you and for the organization and team. In fact it may be the most compassionate thing you could do for yourself.

  
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