I have been thinking a lot about what it means to be a leader at this moment. I have colleagues in #highereducation who are struggling with top down edicts and the loss of the freedom to do the jobs they love. Others are finding a variety of ways to support their students, friends and family. What is happening in the US and frankly, the world, goes beyond almost anything I have experienced in my lifetime – it is an existential crisis for democracy. It is a crisis driven by fear – for some, it is the fear of losing privilege, for others it is fear of losing what we thought was progress. After all – didn’t we elect a Black president?
For many of us, the situation in the US isn’t just political – it’s personal. Being based in Canada, and as a tenured senior faculty member, I’m not worried about my job. I’m grateful that I don’t have anyone policing my syllabi or my speech. However, I worry about friends and family in the US. From the immigration lawyers struggling to track their clients to the marchers looking to create change.
When I was going through photos from the March 28th protest, I noted that the picture at the top of this post had one of my favorite sayings – Practice Radical Empathy. I could say it is a sign of the times! It’s a strong message that calls for those who may not be directly impacted by all that is going on to pay attention and try to understand how others are affected. I am struck by the mix of people in this picture – mostly older white women, in Texas, a place I lived for 12 years. There are many people in Texas hoping for change and iti’s important that they are letting their voices be heard, it is encouraging to those of us who are part of the ongoing fight.
As a political scientist, I can’t help but see politics in nearly every action being taken, not only by the government, but by those who are protesting, those who dismiss the protests, and every day people who may not be paying attention, but know that they are paying a lot more for just about everything. It is not a time to give up nor to let the overwhelm paralyze us. It is clearly a time where empathetic and inclusive leadership is desperately needed.
So what can you do – given that we all act as leaders in some aspect of our life? To support co-workers who are struggling, you can apply the principles of “radical empathy” and inclusive leadership by taking the following actions:
- Create Safe Spaces for Vulnerability: Leaders/colleagues/friends can facilitate gatherings where folks feel safe to practice vulnerability and share their personal stories, fears, and anxieties. Creating a space for honesty and vulnerability was highly impactful for a group of leaders trying to support their teams while coping with the stress of the COVID-19 pandemic and the January 6th Capitol attacks.
- Develop support systems: For those who may be concerned about sharing their personal stories at work, provide other outlets, by developing peer groups, or sharing information about external programs designed to create community or one-on-one counseling.
- Practice “Inclusive Leadership” Behaviors: Leaders can actively demonstrate “curiosity about others” by listening without judgment and seeking to fully understand their colleagues with empathy. They can support effective collaboration by paying close attention to the psychological safety of their team and actively empowering others.
- Act as an Ally and Mentor: Leaders—especially those with privilege—can support marginalized co-workers by validating their experiences, building trusting relationships, and understanding the stressors of the moment.
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