Hope in dark times comes from collective action – people working together to ensure even more compassionate healthcare systems and even more compassionate communities, writes Professor Michael West, Professor of Organizational Psychology, Lancaster University Management School, Senior Visiting Fellow, The King’s Fund and Emeritus Professor, Aston University.
This powerful evidence-based approach is the only compelling strategy that will enable us to successfully navigate the challenges our healthcare systems and our societies face.
The commitment leaders like Ms. June Stanley, CEO and the Board of the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Mellany Mc Loone, Integrated Health Area Manager, HSE Dublin North City and Dublin North West, Dr. Ethel Ryan and Angela Hughes, the first to sign on behalf of the HSE Clinical Director Programme, have shown by signing the Compassionate Leadership Pledge is inspiring. They are making a public commitment to focus all in their organizations on developing their leadership and teamworking to model compassion for patients, to promote compassion between staff members and to encourage all to develop self-compassion.
Their commitment to lead compassionately is vital for continuing to improve care quality for the people of Ireland. This is leading by being present with and listening to all their staff; seeking with humility to understand the challenges they face; empathising with and caring for those they lead; and committing to helping those they lead do their sacred jobs more effectively
This is not some ‘soft cushions, scented candles’ approach to leadership. Compassion is leaning into pain and difficulty, not simply being ‘nice’ to people. It involves much greater authenticity and courage than the failed top down, command and control leadership styles that have outlived any usefulness they may have had in the past.
The health, wellbeing, and happiness of the people of Ireland depends on a similar commitment to developing compassionate cultures from public agencies generally across Ireland and healthcare organisations in particular. The vision of Compassionate Ireland is an inspiring beacon to guide leaders for the future.
The Irish health care system is an anchor institution: the largest employer which has a life-long influence on the well-being of all citizens. These leaders who have had the courage to sign the Compassionate Leadership Pledge inspire hope and encourage a collective commitment to shape an even more compassionate society making Ireland a model for the rest of the world. May they be the first of many.
