"What makes something better is connection." ~ Brene Brown
Photo Credit: Kevin Jordan, Laguna Trail near Limantour Beach at Pt. Reyes National Seashore.
Greetings -
I hope you, your families and friends are well! As we embark on the Fall season, we find ourselves on a bit of a weekend hiking binge. We are enjoying exploring the many trails in Marin and Sonoma counties (as evidenced by this edition's photo). And we are especially excited for the near-term arrival of our beloved daughter, as she will be spending her Fall school break with us.
Her pending arrival has me reflecting on the importance of connection and community. They can, as Brene Brown notes, have a substantively positive impact on our lives. Whether we are riding high or wrestling with our lows, fostering connectivity and community nurtures, sustains and heals us. Thank you for being a part of my community.
The themes of emotional intelligence, self-awareness and empathic communication have been paramount in my recent conversations with clients and colleagues. Diverse in content and sourcing, this edition provides an array of perspectives and insights. I hope you find applicability and benefit.
As always, happy reading and listening!
Be well, take good care of yourselves, families and community.
-kj
PS - (Missed a newsletter? Past editions can be found here: https://www.kevinjordan.coach/blog. And if you hit paywall on an article(s), feel free to send me a note and let me know what you need. I have subscriptions to many of the sources that I cite.)
Featured: https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw
"Empathy fuels connection. Sympathy drives disconnection."
Effective and empathic communication rests on the practice of listening well. When we seek to understand before being understood, we ensure that others are seen and heard.
The art of creating and holding space for others to share information, ask questions or express divergent viewpoints can be transformative. It can facilitate rich, productive conversations across a diverse range of topics and perspectives. As a result, we have the opportunity to create cultures centered on curiosity, honesty, understanding, reflection, debate and compromise.
Articles
The Wall Street Journal: The Loneliness of the American Worker. "More meetings and faceless chats. Fewer work friends. How the modern workday is fueling an epidemic of isolation."
Harvard Business Review: When Your Employee Feels Angry, Sad, or Dejected. "Leaders must be able to respond in a supportive manner to the emotions of their employees. That requires them to learn how to handle others’ feelings in different contexts, be more aware of their own behavior, and hone their skills. If they can master those three things, the result will be a healthier, more successful organization."
Psychology Today: The Truth About Emotional Intelligence. "For those who have it, it predicts success in many ways."
Blog Posts & Opinions
Big Think: Everyday Philosophy: How much empathy is too much empathy? “'I know what you’re thinking' can sound kind or creepy — depending on who’s saying it."
Seth's Blog: Empathy at a distance. "Empathy is really difficult. It’s generally worth it. Because empathy is the key to connection, trust and community."
Mark Manson: The Most Important Question of Your Life. "What we get out of life is not determined by the good feelings we desire, but by what bad feelings we’re willing and able to sustain to get us to those good feelings."
TED Talks + Podcasts
TED-Ed Educator Talks: The difference between false empathy and true support. "There's a right way and wrong way to do empathy, says author and scholar Chezare A. Warren. So how do we get it right? He unpacks the source of false empathy and explains the key shift in perspective we need to build healthy relationships and truly support others."
Joan Gary: Emotional Intelligence is the Key to Better Leadership (with Daniel Goleman). "How can we improve our emotional intelligence and become better leaders as a result?"
TED2024: The astonishing future of immersive live entertainment. "Multimedia show director Willie Williams has helped redefine live entertainment in collaboration with artists ranging from David Bowie to The Rolling Stones. He gives a behind-the-scenes look at his recent epic undertaking — designing and directing the rock band U2’s 40-night residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a blend of cutting-edge technology and imaginative visual storytelling — and shares what it takes to create unforgettable experiences that foster connection."
Arts, Music & Humor Corner
Block Club Chicago: Art Institute Of Chicago Plans New Modern Art Building With $75 Million Donation. "The donation comes from art collectors Aaron I. Fleischman and Lin Lougheed. It’s the largest single naming gift in the museum’s history."
Paste: Inside Portland’s Post-Lockdown Guitar-Band Explosion. "Yet the community of young rock bands that’s emerged since the first generator shows in spring 2021 feels like a scene, with a strong sense of community and a coherent sonic identity with an emphasis on loudness."
The New Yorker: Some Candid Career Advice. "Your career isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. A marathon that you have to sprint through or risk being overtaken by someone who started the race at mile twenty-six with a bulky Rolodex and a champagne flute full of P.E.D.-laced Gatorade."
Reflections
”This is the first, wildest and wisest thing I know: that the soul exists, and that it is built entirely out of attentiveness.”~ Mary Oliver
“Grief is an ancestor who teaches us to exercise constant and immense gratitude.”~ Mimi Zhu