It is challenging to pay attention to other people’s emotions and desires when focused on your own. However, in teaching, it is critical to lead from the heart. You must be conscious of how your actions influence others and what you must do to demonstrate sympathy and compassion for others.

Empathy and Sympathy are Essential

For the most part, expressing sympathy and empathy is simple. It is instinctive for us to put ourselves in other people’s situations and envision how we’d feel. We, in turn, address them with the same love and compassion we would want to be addressed in that scenario. Sometimes this entails breaking the rules, and other times it involves going above and beyond. Finally, it is worthwhile because we can alleviate another person’s pain.

Others struggle to be sympathetic and compassionate since it is not intuitive.  They cannot place themselves in the situations of others and treat them how they would want to be regarded. They regard everything as a commercial transaction rather than a personal one. Regrettably, in the profession of education, this approach will land you in trouble. You will wind up looking like Ebenezer Scrooge.

Becoming More Compassion

So, how does someone who is not sympathetic by nature learn to be? As I have stated, you do not have an alternative if you are a school leader. You will be working with vulnerable children who have been badly influenced by adults who lack understanding or sympathy. I am guessing you have someone special in your life. How would you like them to be regarded?  Do you think you’d want others to consider them with sympathy? How can you desire something for them yet refuse to do it for others?

From this vantage point, you should understand that leading with empathy is not difficult; all you have to do is embrace it from a perspective of selflessness. Putting others first may seem strange, but give it a chance, and it will become part of the routine.