Resilient Warrior Leader: Compassion as the Compass

Leadership is not about having all the answers—it’s about paying attention.

In a world that’s always moving, always comparing, and always demanding more, let’s continue our resilient warrior leadership series with the concept of compassion as the leader’s compass. Being able to sit and listen, to pay attention, and to reflect back is secret sauce to the best leaders.

It points us to what matters most—human connection. That’s really what we’re doing here, right?! It keeps us grounded when the winds of uncertainty try to knock us off course. And it reminds us that resilience isn’t just muscle—it’s heart.

We live in a time of constant measurement—of self against others, of success against impossible standards, of worth against likes and follows (try publishing a book these days without likes and followers!). Resilient warrior leaders shouldn’t waste their energy on the comparison trap. They lead by compassion. They move toward pain, discomfort and change, not away from it. They look, they empathize, they acknowledge, and then—they decide.

Let’s break that down.

L – Look Around

The eyes say a lot about a person and perhaps most noticeably where they are looking. Action begins with the eyes. We look to catch a ball, we look to run downfield, we look to see where our community needs help. Looking is paying attention. Paying attention is the first step of going into someone else’s world. We must look around, physically and emotionally, to see what our community needs. When we look into another person’s world we are empathizing with them.

Empathy is an effort of compassion. Compassion is the daily practice of recognizing and accepting our shared humanity so that we can treat ourselves and others with love and kindness, and we take action in the face of suffering. We can respond empathetically only if we are willing to be present to someone’s pain.

Looking is the first act of compassion. Noticing is the first act of leadership.

Try This Week: Walk through your workplace, neighborhood, or home with intention. Spend five minutes a day looking for signs of need, stress, or struggle—without trying to fix anything yet. Just pay attention.

E – Empathize Deeply

Empathy is not feeling someone’s pain for them—it’s understanding it, naming it, and honoring it. As Brené Brown reminds us, empathy requires courage. It means being present to another’s pain without trying to fix it. It means listening without judgment and asking, “What is this like for you?”

Theresa Wiseman and Brown identify five traits of true empathy:

• Perspective Taking: Step into their shoes.
  

• Staying Out of Judgment: Don’t rank pain. Just witness it.
  

• Recognizing Emotion: Tune into the feeling underneath the words.
  

• Communicating Understanding: Reflect it back. Let them know they’re not alone.
  

• Practicing Mindfulness: Stay present in discomfort.

Empathy is a skill. It’s a daily practice. It’s renewable, infinite, and free.

Try This Week: Choose one person—team member, friend, or family—and ask: “How are you really doing?” Then listen. Really listen. Don’t fix. Don’t advise. Just reflect what you hear.

• “Hey, before we jump into things—I just wanted to check in. How are you really doing lately?”
  

• “I’ve noticed you’ve had a lot on your plate. How’s your heart in all of this?”
  

• “We don’t have to solve anything, but I’m here to listen. How have you really been?”
  

• “This is a safe space—what’s been feeling heavy or good or weird lately?

A – Acknowledge the Truth

Here’s the hard part: acknowledgment. It means confronting what’s real—even when it’s uncomfortable. Especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Leadership demands truth-telling. Not just to others—but to yourself.

Years ago, after reading The Conversation by Dr. Robert Livingston and Nice Racism by Dr. Robin DiAngelo, I had to face my own blind spots. I saw how I had participated in a system I hadn’t fully acknowledged. I had to own my complicity before I could lead with integrity.

That’s the work.

It’s easy to nod silently at injustice or dysfunction and move on. But true acknowledgment? It’s vocal. It’s written. It’s lived.

If you see something, say something.

Try This Week: Name one hard truth in your life or leadership that you've been avoiding. Say it out loud. Write it down. Share it with a trusted colleague or mentor. Let acknowledgment be your act of courage. Then sit with it; how does it feel, what do you want to do about it?

D – Decide to Act

This is the moment where compassion becomes courage. Where empathy becomes action.

What will you do with what you now know?

Leadership is not about reacting—it’s about deciding. What does this moment call for? What values are at stake? How can I move forward with purpose, not panic?

Whether it’s initiating a tough conversation, launching a new program, or simply showing up consistently—your decisions matter. They ripple outward. They create change.

LEAD: Look. Empathize. Acknowledge. Decide.

Try This Week: Choose one small act of compassion that aligns with your values—write a thank you note, offer support to someone struggling, or speak up in a meeting when it matters. Let your decision reflect who you are becoming.

This is leadership for the long game. For the hard days. For the people depending on you to be both strong and soft. This is leadership rooted in narrative belonging—where people feel seen, valued, and safe. Where your story, and theirs, intertwine.

And here’s the best part: empathy is infinite. The more you give, the more we all have. It’s not a limited resource reserved for a chosen few—it’s available for everyone. Different colors, genders, creeds, backgrounds—we all deserve compassion. We all benefit from it.

So today, Warrior Leader, ask yourself:

• Where are your eyes?

• Who are you listening to?

• What are you willing to face?

• What will you do with what you now know?

Lead with compassion. Let it be your compass.