Today, I want to talk about something that’s been heavy on my heart: the importance of holding onto Real History as it’s unfolding, not just to understand today but to avoid repeating mistakes tomorrow.
Lately, I have felt anxious about the world we’re building and the future we’re leaving for our kids. When I look at what’s happening, I can’t help but think about the role models I want my son to emulate. It’s not just about those leaders at the highest levels. We can be leaders even if we don’t have the title. It’s about us, each of us, stepping up, being those role models, and showing that we can lead with both empathy and strength.
Let’s keep leading with empathy.
To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.
Key Takeaways:
- The best leaders have the humility to recognize their flaws and understand that the best, most effective decisions come from inviting expert voices that aren’t their own so they can get a clearer picture of both risks and opportunities.
- Use the upcoming leadership of the US to teach your children what kind of leader not to be.
- Kindness, inclusion, and integrity are qualities worth pursuing—not just in others, but in ourselves.
“We can be leaders if we don’t have the title but some people, even if promoted to the title, even if elected to the title, will never be true leaders..” — Maria Ross
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FULL TRANSCRIPT:
Welcome to the empathy edge podcast, the show that proves why cash flow, creativity and compassion are not mutually exclusive. I’m your host, Maria Ross, I’m a speaker, author, mom, facilitator and empathy advocate. And here you’ll meet trailblazing leaders and executives, authors and experts who embrace empathy to achieve radical success. We discuss all facets of empathy, from trends and research to the future of work to how to heal societal divisions and collaborate more effectively. Our goal is to redefine success and prove that empathy isn’t just good for society. It’s great for business. Hi everyone. Maria here with our November hot take. I was going to talk about revisionist history in light of November and the US Thanksgiving holiday, but today I want to talk about something that’s been heavy on my heart, the importance of holding on to real history as it’s unfolding, not just to understand today, but to avoid repeating mistakes tomorrow.
Lately, I, like many others, have felt anxious about the world we’re building and the future we’re leaving for our kids because of the US presidential election earlier this month, so many people, black and brown communities, immigrants, women, LGBTQ plus folks, are moving through the world with uncertainty about their safety and opportunity to just simply exist and autonomously pursue health, happiness and opportunity, just like all of us want to and this isn’t just about policies anymore. It’s about celebrating and modeling in our policies a core value. I think we all share empathy, the kind of empathy that inspires ethical leadership, leadership grounded in values, not in titles, leadership that brings out the best in all of us, that activates us as citizens, to work together to solve problems. When I look at what’s happening, I can’t help but think about the role models I want my son to emulate. It’s how I got on this empathy journey in the first place, back when I was researching the empathy edge, I want him to look up to leaders who serve others with integrity, respect and genuine love for humanity, leaders who don’t put status above service, who don’t confuse loyalty with effectiveness, leaders who celebrate people’s differences and see the value in those diverse perspectives to make our world better, leaders who don’t need to be surrounded by flatterers and yes men, leaders who have the humility to recognize their own flaws and understand that the best, most effective decisions come from inviting expert voices that aren’t their own so they can get a clearer picture of both risks and opportunities.
I gotta be honest, I struggle with understanding how to explain to my 10 year old son why someone who’s been indicted multiple times, someone who lies, who sows division, who is hateful, misogynistic and racist and encourages others to be so why someone who has had multiple affairs cannot speak without lying, and who has committed sexual assault? How I explain to him that that is not appropriate behavior, that’s not the way a true leader acts, and that such people get to be president, and let’s be honest, Vice President, some would like to excuse this behavior by saying it’s just rhetoric, but we tell our kids not to say such things. So why is it okay for the leader of the free world to do it and not be held accountable? No wonder our kids think we’re hypocrites. Also with that rhetoric comes not only actual policies that put lives and livelihoods in danger, but it pits neighbor against neighbor. Maybe those supporters always felt this way and are just as they say, saying the quiet part out loud now, but we as a society used to check them on that behavior, and at least we didn’t have this type of rhetoric unabashedly coming at us from the leaders of our own country. I watched a great video on social media the other day, and I’m sorry I don’t have it with me to cite, but the video’s creator asked what people actually mean by Make America Great Again, like, what year in America’s history do they want to go back to exactly one where women couldn’t vote or do anything without their husbands, one where blacks couldn’t eat at the same lunch counters or go to the same schools as whites? The Creator mused, instead of going. Back to an America where gay and trans people had to live in fear in the closet. I would love to go back to a time when assholes had to stay in the closet because society would actually call them out for bad behavior. I guess if anything, I can use these moments to show my son what kind of leader he should not aspire to be, that he can be a better person than that.
He has asked me when he listens to the news with me, but if they’re all saying what he said is not true, why does he lie? And if he’s lying, why do his people support him anyway? And in those heartbreaking moments, I have to tell him, honey, I just don’t know. We can be leaders if we don’t have the title. But some people, even if promoted to the title or elected to the title, will never be true leaders. So this is really a call to action for all of us to step up and be the empathetic, strong, diverse, action oriented leaders that we want and need to see in the world. And it’s not just about hoping for these leaders at the highest levels. It’s about us. It’s about each of us stepping up being those role models and showing that we can lead with both empathy and strength, because the truth is, even if we never hold a title, we can still be the kind of leader our companies, communities and families need right now. So my call, my plea, my invitation to you today is to embrace the role you play wherever you are, use the leadership we will see over the next four years as a cautionary tale for your kids and for ourselves of what not to do, not as something to look up to.
Please, don’t let this negative type of leadership ever get normalized. Let’s prove to our kids, our employees, our world, that empathy and success can coexist. Let’s show them that, yes, kindness, inclusion and integrity are qualities worth pursuing, not just in others, but in ourselves. Each time we choose empathy, each time we choose to treat people with respect. We’re creating a model for them. We’re making history that one day they’ll look back on with pride. Thank you for listening and as always, let’s keep leading with empathy. I hope you enjoyed today’s hot take. As always, if you enjoyed it, please share it with a friend or a colleague and rate and review, because your feedback matters. And until next time, please remember that cash flow, creativity and compassion are not mutually exclusive. Take care and be kind
For more on how to achieve radical success through empathy. Visit the empathy edge.com there. You can listen to past episodes, access show notes and free resources. Book me for a Keynote or workshop and sign up for our email list to get new episodes, insights, news and events. Please follow me on Instagram at Red slice Maria, never forget, empathy is your superpower. Use it to make your work and the world a better place.
