Name - Individual Response Paper #5 (COMPASSIONATE COLLABORATOR) Pillar 4, being a compassionate collaborate applies directly to my life in that I am constantly attempting to consider how my actions impact others. I understand that every exchange leaves an imprint on others and that it’s my duty to ensure that people have positive experiences with me. I try to be proactive and ensure that everyone I work with leaves our interaction with a feeling of uplift. This is possible and within the realm of my personal responsibility. Moreover, I am aware of the fact that often people are struggling and going through more pain or challenges than what they would actually care to admit. One thing that my grandmother always told me was that I should be kind to everyone, but that I should be particularly kind to mean people, as they need kindness the most. These are words of wisdom that have definitely guided me through many difficult situations in both my personal life and my professional endeavors. Many mean people or difficult people have often been disappointed my life. Some of the most challenging young people that I’ve worked with have often gone through enormous amounts of untold abuse and disappointing, enduring much trauma in their young lives.

This can create very productive working relationships and allow one to affect change in others in truly meaningful ways. I’ve found that things like really giving people the opportunity to share and then really listening to them can be tremendously influential, and something that a lot of patients and client claim to be missing (Lown et al., 2011).
This is because listening creates understanding. Listening ensures that people feel and actually are heard (Eccleston, 2010). This creates a realm where more nuanced decision-making can occur, which is crucial in becoming a compassionate collaborator. Furthermore, as we discussed in this course, part of being a compassionate collaborator means extending a modicum of empathy to others. Life has many wonderful gifts that are a part of it, but it also has many challenges and points of struggle. Empathy is a corollary to listening and a major part of being a compassionate collaborator. “Servant leaders attempt to understand and empathize…