Can you really walk in someone else’s shoes? * Lesson 5 on Empathy

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Empathy Lesson #5 – 

Reflect

                        Realize that empathizing is hard work

                        Recognize your own biases

                        Develop an appetite for learning about other cultures

                        Keep an open mind and a positive attitude

Full Story and all five lessons follow...

Can you really walk in someone else's shoes?

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Very simply put, empathy means we can walk in someone else’s shoes (not literally like this cartoon, of course).  Can you share another person’s feelings?  For a great leader, especially a Servant Leader, showing empathy and acceptance of others is essential to the growth and development of the people who live and work with them.  The truth is, anybody can lead perfect people.  However, I haven’t met a perfect person yet, have you?  Even though the work performance of others may be judge critically, people grow taller and perform their work tasks better when those who lead them empathize and accept them.

Empathy is a vehicle for effective understanding, communication, and relationships.  It is essential to find the solutions to problems that are so prevalent in today’s economic world.  Empathy is essential in handling complaints, retaining customers, building relationships, and leading others at home and in the workplace.  Most modern gurus in the areas of communications, management, and self development refer in one way or another to the importance of empathy.  We need to learn how to really understand another person’s feelings and emotions in order to promote professional and personal growth in ourselves and in others.

Showing empathy to your colleagues and family will help build trust because a leader who can empathize with others can also be trusted.   Acquiring empathy is about being in tune with who you are as a person.  The good news is, empathy involves skills and social beliefs, most of which can be learned.  I believe that people working on and developing their empathy skills can ultimately end some of the human suffering that happens on a daily basis in our world…it is THAT important and powerful!

Empathy is not an easy skill to learn and it is definitely not an easy skill to teach.  But, with some practice and patience (and yes, prayer), you will be able to refine and develop your empathy skills this week by working on the following suggestions.  Keep in mind that by becoming more empathetic, you are one step closer to becoming a more effective Servant Leader.  We all should be more conscious of how we relate to others because this world could use a few more Servant Leaders, don’t you agree?

Empathy Lesson #1 – 

Reflect on Your Own Feelings and Distinguish Them from the Feelings of Others

                        Recognize your own needs

                        Regulate your own emotional responses

                        Become more self aware

                        Take another person’s perspective on a subject

Empathy Lesson #2 – 

Imagine the Perspective of another Person

                        Discover what you have in common with others

                        Cultivate compassion

                        Have an Open Door Policy at work,

                               encouraging others to talk to you

                        Practice your listening skills

Empathy Lesson #3 – 

Bounce Back from Negative Emotions

                        Think before you act

                        Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative

                        Find something positive about the situation

                        Be thankful today for all that is good and right in your world

Empathy Lesson #4 – 

Establish Rapport with Others

                        Take time to get to know people

                        Try to identify and relate to others

                        Identify rapport-establishing phrases

                        Use a communication style that is sympathetic and interested

Empathy Lesson #5 – 

Reflect

                        Realize that empathizing is hard work

                        Recognize your own biases

                        Develop an appetite for learning about other cultures

                        Keep an open mind and a positive attitude

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the CEO of The Main Thing Leadership Coaching Firm and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  This article is an excerpt from the self published book, Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com.

What you don't know about sickle cell disease

By Sharon Watkins-Jones

September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. How much do you know about the disease? Do you know what you don’t know about sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease is an inherited blood disorder. People with sickle cell disease have red blood cells that contain an abnormal type of hemoglobin. Their red blood cells often become stiff and sickle-shaped (like crescent moons), clogging up the normal flow of blood through the body, causing tissue damage and severe pain.   Commonly, sickle cell disease damages a person’s kidney, liver, and lungs. In addition, young sickle cell patients are more susceptible to bacterial infection, due to spleen damage.

There is no universally accepted cure for sickle cell disease at this time.

As a young adult, I thought I was reasonably well-informed about sickle cell disease. I knew it was inherited, and although there was no history of the trait or the disease in my family, I participated in a sickle cell testing drive in college. 

Please CLICK HERE for the full article...What do you think was her outcome?

Sharon is a community college administrator, former special education teacher, wife of 17 years and mother of two school-age children in northwest Houston. Her primary interests are family-inclusive culture and arts, travel, politics, historical literature, Texas Longhorns and all things Disney.

Can you really walk in someone else’s shoes? * Lesson 4 on Empathy

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Empathy Lesson #4 – 

Establish Rapport with Others

                        Take time to get to know people

                        Try to identify and relate to others

                        Identify rapport-establishing phrases

                        Use a communication style that is sympathetic and interested

Full Story and all five lessons follow...

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Very simply put, empathy means we can walk in someone else’s shoes (not literally like this cartoon, of course).  Can you share another person’s feelings?  For a great leader, especially a Servant Leader, showing empathy and acceptance of others is essential to the growth and development of the people who live and work with them.  The truth is, anybody can lead perfect people.  However, I haven’t met a perfect person yet, have you?  Even though the work performance of others may be judge critically, people grow taller and perform their work tasks better when those who lead them empathize and accept them.

Empathy is a vehicle for effective understanding, communication, and relationships.  It is essential to find the solutions to problems that are so prevalent in today’s economic world.  Empathy is essential in handling complaints, retaining customers, building relationships, and leading others at home and in the workplace.  Most modern gurus in the areas of communications, management, and self development refer in one way or another to the importance of empathy.  We need to learn how to really understand another person’s feelings and emotions in order to promote professional and personal growth in ourselves and in others.

Showing empathy to your colleagues and family will help build trust because a leader who can empathize with others can also be trusted.   Acquiring empathy is about being in tune with who you are as a person.  The good news is, empathy involves skills and social beliefs, most of which can be learned.  I believe that people working on and developing their empathy skills can ultimately end some of the human suffering that happens on a daily basis in our world…it is THAT important and powerful!

Empathy is not an easy skill to learn and it is definitely not an easy skill to teach.  But, with some practice and patience (and yes, prayer), you will be able to refine and develop your empathy skills this week by working on the following suggestions.  Keep in mind that by becoming more empathetic, you are one step closer to becoming a more effective Servant Leader.  We all should be more conscious of how we relate to others because this world could use a few more Servant Leaders, don’t you agree?

Empathy Lesson #1 – 

Reflect on Your Own Feelings and Distinguish Them from the Feelings of Others

                        Recognize your own needs

                        Regulate your own emotional responses

                        Become more self aware

                        Take another person’s perspective on a subject

Empathy Lesson #2 – 

Imagine the Perspective of another Person

                        Discover what you have in common with others

                        Cultivate compassion

                        Have an Open Door Policy at work,

                               encouraging others to talk to you

                        Practice your listening skills

Empathy Lesson #3 – 

Bounce Back from Negative Emotions

                        Think before you act

                        Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative

                        Find something positive about the situation

                        Be thankful today for all that is good and right in your world

Empathy Lesson #4 – 

Establish Rapport with Others

                        Take time to get to know people

                        Try to identify and relate to others

                        Identify rapport-establishing phrases

                        Use a communication style that is sympathetic and interested

Empathy Lesson #5 – 

Reflect

                        Realize that empathizing is hard work

                        Recognize your own biases

                        Develop an appetite for learning about other cultures

                        Keep an open mind and a positive attitude

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the CEO of The Main Thing Leadership Coaching Firm and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  This article is an excerpt from the self published book, Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com.

Can you really walk in someone else’s shoes? * Lesson 3 on Empathy

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Empathy Lesson #3 – 

Bounce Back from Negative Emotions

                        Think before you act

                        Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative

                        Find something positive about the situation

                        Be thankful today for all that is good and right in your world

Full Story and all five lessons follow...

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Very simply put, empathy means we can walk in someone else’s shoes (not literally like this cartoon, of course).  Can you share another person’s feelings?  For a great leader, especially a Servant Leader, showing empathy and acceptance of others is essential to the growth and development of the people who live and work with them.  The truth is, anybody can lead perfect people.  However, I haven’t met a perfect person yet, have you?  Even though the work performance of others may be judge critically, people grow taller and perform their work tasks better when those who lead them empathize and accept them.

Empathy is a vehicle for effective understanding, communication, and relationships.  It is essential to find the solutions to problems that are so prevalent in today’s economic world.  Empathy is essential in handling complaints, retaining customers, building relationships, and leading others at home and in the workplace.  Most modern gurus in the areas of communications, management, and self development refer in one way or another to the importance of empathy.  We need to learn how to really understand another person’s feelings and emotions in order to promote professional and personal growth in ourselves and in others.

Showing empathy to your colleagues and family will help build trust because a leader who can empathize with others can also be trusted.   Acquiring empathy is about being in tune with who you are as a person.  The good news is, empathy involves skills and social beliefs, most of which can be learned.  I believe that people working on and developing their empathy skills can ultimately end some of the human suffering that happens on a daily basis in our world…it is THAT important and powerful!

Empathy is not an easy skill to learn and it is definitely not an easy skill to teach.  But, with some practice and patience (and yes, prayer), you will be able to refine and develop your empathy skills this week by working on the following suggestions.  Keep in mind that by becoming more empathetic, you are one step closer to becoming a more effective Servant Leader.  We all should be more conscious of how we relate to others because this world could use a few more Servant Leaders, don’t you agree?

Empathy Lesson #1 – 

Reflect on Your Own Feelings and Distinguish Them from the Feelings of Others

                        Recognize your own needs

                        Regulate your own emotional responses

                        Become more self aware

                        Take another person’s perspective on a subject

Empathy Lesson #2 – 

Imagine the Perspective of another Person

                        Discover what you have in common with others

                        Cultivate compassion

                        Have an Open Door Policy at work,

                               encouraging others to talk to you

                        Practice your listening skills

Empathy Lesson #3 – 

Bounce Back from Negative Emotions

                        Think before you act

                        Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative

                        Find something positive about the situation

                        Be thankful today for all that is good and right in your world

Empathy Lesson #4 – 

Establish Rapport with Others

                        Take time to get to know people

                        Try to identify and relate to others

                        Identify rapport-establishing phrases

                        Use a communication style that is sympathetic and interested

Empathy Lesson #5 – 

Reflect

                        Realize that empathizing is hard work

                        Recognize your own biases

                        Develop an appetite for learning about other cultures

                        Keep an open mind and a positive attitude

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the CEO of The Main Thing Leadership Coaching Firm and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  This article is an excerpt from the self published book, Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com.

Can you really walk in someone else’s shoes? * Lesson 2 on Empathy

by Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Today's Empathy Lesson #2 –

Imagine the Perspective of another Person

                        Discover what you have in common with others

                        Cultivate compassion

                        Have an Open Door Policy at work,

                               encouraging others to talk to you

                        Practice your listening skills

Full Story and all five lessons follow...

By Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa

Very simply put, empathy means we can walk in someone else’s shoes (not literally like this cartoon, of course).  Can you share another person’s feelings?  For a great leader, especially a Servant Leader, showing empathy and acceptance of others is essential to the growth and development of the people who live and work with them.  The truth is, anybody can lead perfect people.  However, I haven’t met a perfect person yet, have you?  Even though the work performance of others may be judge critically, people grow taller and perform their work tasks better when those who lead them empathize and accept them.

Empathy is a vehicle for effective understanding, communication, and relationships.  It is essential to find the solutions to problems that are so prevalent in today’s economic world.  Empathy is essential in handling complaints, retaining customers, building relationships, and leading others at home and in the workplace.  Most modern gurus in the areas of communications, management, and self development refer in one way or another to the importance of empathy.  We need to learn how to really understand another person’s feelings and emotions in order to promote professional and personal growth in ourselves and in others.

Showing empathy to your colleagues and family will help build trust because a leader who can empathize with others can also be trusted.   Acquiring empathy is about being in tune with who you are as a person.  The good news is, empathy involves skills and social beliefs, most of which can be learned.  I believe that people working on and developing their empathy skills can ultimately end some of the human suffering that happens on a daily basis in our world…it is THAT important and powerful!

Empathy is not an easy skill to learn and it is definitely not an easy skill to teach.  But, with some practice and patience (and yes, prayer), you will be able to refine and develop your empathy skills this week by working on the following suggestions.  Keep in mind that by becoming more empathetic, you are one step closer to becoming a more effective Servant Leader.  We all should be more conscious of how we relate to others because this world could use a few more Servant Leaders, don’t you agree?

Empathy Lesson #1 – 

Reflect on Your Own Feelings and Distinguish Them from the Feelings of Others

                        Recognize your own needs

                        Regulate your own emotional responses

                        Become more self aware

                        Take another person’s perspective on a subject

Empathy Lesson #2 – 

Imagine the Perspective of another Person

                        Discover what you have in common with others

                        Cultivate compassion

                        Have an Open Door Policy at work,

                               encouraging others to talk to you

                        Practice your listening skills

Empathy Lesson #3 – 

Bounce Back from Negative Emotions

                        Think before you act

                        Don’t let yourself dwell on the negative

                        Find something positive about the situation

                        Be thankful today for all that is good and right in your world

Empathy Lesson #4 – 

Establish Rapport with Others

                        Take time to get to know people

                        Try to identify and relate to others

                        Identify rapport-establishing phrases

                        Use a communication style that is sympathetic and interested

Empathy Lesson #5 – 

Reflect

                        Realize that empathizing is hard work

                        Recognize your own biases

                        Develop an appetite for learning about other cultures

                        Keep an open mind and a positive attitude

Barbara Baggerly-Hinojosa is a mother, educator, and wife living in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.  She is a PhD student with Our Lady of the Lake University in Leadership Studies.  Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa is the CEO of The Main Thing Leadership Coaching Firm and is currently researching the relationship between the leadership of the high school principal and the high school drop out rate.  This article is an excerpt from the self published book, Are You A Ten?  The Ten Characteristics of a Servant Leader.   For ordering information, please contact Mrs. Baggerly-Hinojosa at Barb313679@aol.com.