Compassion – A key ingredient to thrive in social entrepreneurship.

Do you enjoy encouraging others? Do you love seeing people thrive?

If this is you, then this blog is for you.

You might be a manager in a mid-size company. Or a young entrepreneur dreaming of helping others. Even an investment banker who would like to see people in your industry thrive and make impactful investments. The role you are in is not as important as the attitude of your heart. As the saying goes “Grow where you are planted”.

My question to you today is, “How can you show compassion to those you are around?”

Compassion to colleagues, customers and service providers. Sometimes we forget who is at the other side of the table. We forget that the person has their own story. A story filled with beauty and some pain. Beauty, because they have unique skills, they have people in their lives that loves them. Pain, because they have gone through some difficult times. Pain we can try to understand but might never be able to comprehend.

There are so many benefits of compassion. I will highlight just a few.

1. It builds trust. Compassion allows trust to grow. In today’s world of self-gratification, trust has gone out the door. It is no longer about trusting others and having a heart that gives. It has become all about what I can get.
2. It allows patience and endurance to be present in difficult situations. When a colleague goes through a difficult time, compassion allows us to be patient and help them rather than being only task driven.
3. It reminds us that we are human. When last have you done something for someone who was facing a challenge? When we open our hearts and serve them, we are reminded that we are human. Let us just be honest, humans are not perfect, it does not matter what social media portrays. We all have scars from our past. The scars should not keep us from having hope for the future, and it should not close our heart to help others.

How can you grow in compassion to yourself and others?

1. I am amazed by this simplistic yet impactful action. People have been able to close very difficult situations in their lives, because someone took the time to listen.
2. Let someone tell you their story. Take time every month to learn more about one of your colleagues, customers or close relationships. This will help you to understand what is going on beneath the surface.
3. Share your story. Be brave. Be authentic and share your story. It is your story and someone might just find encouragement from your story. I am amazed every time I facilitate a “Navigating Retirement” session. When someone takes the bold step to share their struggles with facing this very deep and real-life transition, others become more transparent. As a group they somehow find solace and strength in the common uncertainties and are able to overcome the change much easier.

I want to encourage you today, to grow in your compassion. The reciprocal reward is unmeasurable.

We have coaches that can help you grow and transition though personal, team or organisational struggles. For more info contact our office: office@xpand-sa.com.

This blog was written by Cias Ferreira.