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Dear Faculty Relations: This is a very challenging time for many of my colleagues. How might I practice and demonstrate compassion as a leader and a colleague? What prompts can you offer for my reflection? —Contemplating Compassion

Dear Contemplating Compassion: Compassion is defined as awareness of the suffering of another individual, coupled with the desire to alleviate their suffering and its causes. In short, compassion is empathy plus action. Have you asked yourself how you experience compassion from colleagues?

I myself have experienced compassion when a leader responded to my expression of overwhelm by suggesting that we identify work that I could redefine or defer until a future time. A note of support, an invitation for coffee, and interest in my wellbeing have also made me feel seen and cared for. How do you demonstrate curiosity in your interactions with colleagues? Can you recall a time when asking questions gifted you insight into a colleague’s perspective? You might include standing questions in the agenda for your recurring 1:1 meetings to create an expectation of care. For instance, I’ve found “How are we?” to be helpful for fostering mutual concern. Each person can and should respect their boundaries for sharing, yet a brief invitation to share can give us a meaningful glimpse into a colleague’s experience. Similarly, asking “What can I do to support you in your work?” normalizes the fact that needs for support are dynamic and that anticipating and responding to a colleague’s needs is a key concern for leaders.

Finally, are there ways to make compassion more visible and celebrated across your unit? A recurring group meeting might benefit from an agreement that prioritizes patience, listening, and empathy. Or perhaps rather than beginning a meeting with what’s not working, you might start by asking colleagues to identify what’s going well. This is a challenging time for many in our campus community and an especially fitting time to reflect on how we can all benefit from treating ourselves and others with compassion.

Written by Merinda McLure, Faculty Director of Academic Leadership Development, Office of Faculty Affairs and Professor, University Libraries

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