🧭Dean Smith's Amazing Story of Learning About His Players

Good Morning, and welcome to The Growth Compass. We are that radiant sunrise that gifts you optimism and belief, reminding you that you're a force to be reckoned with and you can conquer any obstacle.

Here’s where we’re headed today:

• Alfred Adler on empathy

• Why empathy matters to your well-being

• 5 steps to being more empathetic

• Amazing story on Dean Smith getting to know his players

Alfred Adler on Empathy

"Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another and feeling with the heart of another."

- Alfred Adler

Why Empathy Matters To Your Well-Being

In a world that often feels disconnected and divided, empathy stands as a powerful force that can bridge the gaps between individuals and foster understanding. Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in someone else's shoes, to truly understand and share their feelings. It is a fundamental human quality that enables us to connect, support, and uplift one another.

• Empathy goes beyond sympathy.

• Empathy involves actively immersing ourselves into someone else’s experience.

• Empathy means actively listening.

• Empathy means exploring other perspectives.

• Empathy means setting aside your biases.

• Empathy requires us to suspend judgment.

• Empathy fosters compassion.

• Empathy strengthens relationships.

• Empathy promotes a deeper understanding of the human condition.

Being empathetic can mend emotional hurts, bring people together, and create a kinder world. When we make empathy a part of our everyday interactions, we can shape an environment where everyone feels heard, valued, and cared for. By making the effort to listen carefully, truly understand one another, and treat each other with kindness, we plant the seeds of empathy and transform our communities into places filled with compassion and understanding.

5 Steps To Being More Empathetic

Empathy is not feeling sorry for someone, it is being present to listen, verbalize, and validate someone else’s feelings.

1. Listen - Show that you are listening and being present. You are removing the judgment and taking on the mindset of learning. It requires you to be open and ready to listen.

2. Ask for elaboration - Understanding in further depth by asking questions such as, “What do you mean?

3. Paraphrase - This deepens your empathy because it means you have been listening. “From my experience, I would say….”

4. Verbalize - Verbalize what you hear them saying that they aren’t saying. This might mean what you have heard from their tone, view or perspective, but they weren’t able to verbalize. “It sounds like….”

5. Validate - Letting the other person feel ‘OK’ based on how they are feeling.

From Dr. Maika Steinborn - How To Be More Empathetic (link)

Amazing Story on Dean Smith Creating Understanding within His Team

Great story by Kenny Smith talking about how Dean Smith, former UNC Basketball Head Coach, used empathy and understanding to invest in his one of his players and his team. Such a great example of being empathetic to others and investing in people.

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