For me, compassion is a fundamental principle. Establishing a trustworthy and secure relationship requires putting the humanity of the individuals you are working with front and center. This was a major issue for many of us this year due to the severe lack of ADHD medication; for me, it meant that I had to work a little closer to my natural rhythm rather than the 9–5 timetable. It really is a game changer to have coworkers that take the effort to comprehend and value those obstacles. The capacity to take action on “empathy” is a logical next step. I’m happy to lend a collaborator any extra time, money, or design expertise I have, especially if I know they’ll do the same. Taking a curious approach to a topic is always going to produce greater results than taking an accusing one. It increases the number of possible outcomes, increasing the likelihood that you’ll select the best one. I much like working cooperatively when something isn’t working. Imagine instead of being told to put in more effort when you say, “We’re having trouble getting your constituents to participate in focus groups.” Instead, imagine being told, “What if we tried using art as a medium?” or “What if we conducted more individual interviews?” or “What if we included more open-ended questions in the survey tool?” Everyone’s lack of trust has been the root of my demoralization and lack of productivity at every company I’ve worked in.
