Tag: empathy

 The Heliotropic Effect

 The heliotropic effect: the phenomenon whereby plants naturally turn toward and grow in the presence of light. 

Nature

The Heliotropic Effect in Leadership

The heliotropic effect, a term borrowed from biology, describes the tendency in all living systems towards energy that sustains life and away from energy that depletes life. In leadership, this translates to the natural inclination of people to gravitate towards leaders who exude positivity and life-enhancing energy.

Understanding Positive Affective Presence

Positive affective presence is more than just a feel-good factor; it’s a strategic advantage. Leaders who exhibit this trait create an environment where team members feel genuinely valued, inspired, and motivated.

Consider the story of Sarah, a project manager known for her vibrant energy. Her team often remarked how her presence alone could turn a stressful day into a productive one, exemplifying the heliotropic effect in action.

Photo by Riccardo Annandale on Unsplash

Cultivating Positive Affective Presence

  1. Emotional Intelligence: Develop a keen awareness of your emotions and those of others. This sensitivity allows you to connect with team members authentically: “Emotional intelligence is the key to both personal and professional success” – Daniel Goleman.
  2. Authentic Communication: Engage in open, honest, and empathetic communication. It builds trust and demonstrates your genuine interest in your team’s well-being: Imagine a leader who always speaks from the heart, whose words are not just heard but felt. This leader doesn’t just communicate; they connect on a deeper level.
  3. Inspirational Motivation: Be the source of inspiration. Share your vision in a way that excites and motivates your team: “Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence, and inspiration.” – Robin S. Sharma.
  4. Positive Reinforcement: Acknowledge and celebrate successes. This not only boosts morale but also reinforces the behaviors you want to see. When Alex’s team achieved a major milestone, he didn’t just send an email; he organized a small celebration. This act of recognition made the team feel valued and motivated.
  5. Empathy and Support: Show understanding and support for your team’s challenges. Being empathetic strengthens relationships and fosters a supportive work culture.There was once a leader who always made time to listen. When a team member was facing a personal challenge, they knew they had a leader who would understand and support them.

The Impact of Positive Affective Presence

Leaders who embody positive affective presence can transform the atmosphere of their teams. They create a ripple effect of positivity, leading to increased productivity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction.

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou.

Maya Angelou’s powerful words resonate deeply with the human experience. They capture the essence of how our interactions with others leave a lasting impact. This quote serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of empathy, compassion, and understanding in our interactions with one another. It highlights the enduring significance of emotional connections and the profound influence they have on our lives. As we navigate through our daily interactions, whether big or small, let us strive to leave a positive and lasting impression through the way we make others feel.

The power of positive affective presence in leadership, underscored by the heliotropic effect, cannot be overstated. It’s about being a beacon of positivity, guiding and inspiring your team towards success. As John Quincy Adams once said, “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”

Strategic Thinking

In the ever-evolving world of business, the ability to think strategically is paramount. One useful tool in this endeavor is the ‘Strategic Thinking MicroSkill Cheat Sheet’. By dividing strategic thinking into three main pillars – Logical, Creative, and Emotional – this cheat sheet provides a roadmap for honing our strategic prowess. Let’s delve deeper.

1. Logical Skills in Strategic Thinking:
These skills provide the foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making.

  • Anticipation: Predicting future changes or challenges allows companies to be proactive rather than reactive.
  • Meta-cognition: Understanding one’s own cognitive biases can prevent costly mistakes.
  • High-quality questions: Instead of asking, “Is our strategy working?”, ask, “What conditions make our strategy effective?”

Insight: Logical skills are all about connecting the dots and understanding the bigger picture. It’s not just about having the answers but asking the right questions.

2. Creative Skills in Strategic Thinking:
These skills bring innovation and adaptability to the forefront.

  • Storytelling: A well-crafted narrative can be more persuasive than a data-packed report.
  • Contrarianism: Sometimes, going against the grain can lead to breakthroughs.
  • Devalorization: Re-assessing and challenging established norms keeps businesses adaptable.

Insight: Creativity in strategic thinking isn’t just about new ideas; it’s about seeing old challenges in a new light and daring to challenge the status quo.

3. Emotional Skills in Strategic Thinking:
These skills anchor decisions in empathy and self-awareness.

  • Empathy: Truly understanding your customer’s or team’s perspective can lead to more nuanced strategies.
  • Courage: The business landscape is filled with uncertainty. Having the courage to take calculated risks can set companies apart.
  • Self-awareness: Recognizing one’s own strengths and weaknesses can guide better decision-making.

Insight: Emotions drive decisions. By understanding and harnessing emotions, businesses can craft more effective and resonant strategies.


The ‘Strategic Thinking MicroSkill Cheat Sheet’ isn’t just a list of skills; it’s a blueprint for success. By understanding and cultivating these skills, we can navigate the complex waters of business with confidence and foresight.

Eulogy Virtues: The Real Social Network

In a world bursting at the seams with 9-to-5 hustlers and LinkedIn gurus, there lived a bunch of virtues, so neglected and so underrated, that they were often forgotten in the dusty corners of the self-improvement library. These were not your typical, grab-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of virtues, nope! These were what the wise old owl, David Brooks, called ‘Eulogy Virtues.‘

Photo by Vladimir Konoplev on Pexels.com

Why Eulogy Virtues Don’t Wear Capes

We live in a world that’s like a colossal, never-ending career fair. Resume virtues – the skills that earn you the corner office with the city view – they get all the limelight. But the underdogs, the eulogy virtues, these are the guys that stand by you, like loyal friends, even when the coffee machine breaks down on a Monday morning.

In the workplace, we could do with a sprinkle of eulogy virtues. Let’s say you’re Jack. You can crunch numbers faster than a high-end calculator, but can you lend an ear to a colleague who’s having a hard day? Can you create a workspace where ideas pop like corn in a hot pan? That’s where honesty, empathy, and integrity put on their superhero capes and come to your rescue. No cape for the coffee machine, though, unfortunately.

Virtues at Home: No WiFi Needed

Moving to the personal realm, we often forget that virtues like kindness and patience don’t require a WiFi connection or a subscription. They are like the free apps that make your life better without you even noticing.

They’re the subtle nudge that tells you to call your mother, the voice that encourages you to help your neighbor with his groceries, or the chuckle you suppress when your significant other sings off-key in the shower. These virtues enrich our lives, nurturing our relationships like a well-timed cat video nurtures our love for the Internet.

Eulogy Virtues: The Real Social Network

When it comes to social interactions, eulogy virtues are like the secret ingredients in your grandma’s famous apple pie. They don’t make the pie look good, but boy do they make it taste heavenly.

In a world where our thumbs are constantly in a state of scroll-induced hypnosis, virtues like empathy, respect, and understanding play a pivotal role. They are the reminders that even though you can order a pizza with an emoji, you still can’t replace the warmth of a genuine human connection.

The Virtue Bootcamp

So, how do you start flexing these virtue muscles, you ask? It’s simple.

  • Start by taking a break from your quest for world domination and indulge in some good ol’ introspection. Some call it mindful reflection, but we like to call it getting to know your own superhero identity.
  • Next, swap your x-ray vision for a pair of empathy glasses. It won’t let you see through walls, but it will let you see through the walls that people build around themselves.
  • Lastly, unleash your kindness quotient. Hold a door, make a cup of tea, or simply lend a smile – no act of kindness is ever too small to count.

Embarking on this journey is like learning to ride a bicycle – you’ll wobble, you’ll fall, and you might even bruise your ego, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be off, cruising down the path to a life that’s fulfilling and worth remembering.

In the end, it’s not about becoming the LinkedIn Influencer of the Year or the Master of Resume Virtues. It’s about being remembered as Jack, the calculator wizard who always had an open ear, a kind word, and a coffee machine repair kit. It’s about being the star of your own eulogy, with virtues that don’t wear capes, but inspire stories worth telling.