Have you ever hit your thumb with a hammer or stubbed your toe or shut your fingers in a door? Have you noticed that in that moment it’s nearly impossible to think about anyone else’s well being as all of your focus turns to that part of your body that’s experiencing the pain?
It’s equally true of emotional pain. When a follower is going through a divorce, grieving the death of a friend, or navigating a rocky marriage, it is very difficult to not be self-centered.
However, there are also those people stuck in chronic emotional pain where the pain has become so familiar and has existed for so long that his/her identity has become inextricably linked to the pain.
The great leader knows when to nurture the follower in the middle of situational pain and when to encourage the follower to seek professional help when s/he gets stuck in chronic pain.
For the leader knows that as long as the follower exhibits self-centered behaviors, trusting that person will be difficult not only for the leader but also for others.
Categories: Empathy
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