Mieke Van de Capelle

Empathy—An Indispensable Virtue: Personal Reflections Empathy stands as one of the most essential virtues for genuine human connection, shaping both personal and professional relationships through the ability to understand and share in another’s emotional world. Across years of lived experience, empathy has repeatedly tested, challenged, and enriched my perspective within family, workplace, and community life. Holiday Rift: Balancing Crisis and Commitment What began as a simple holiday evolved into a complex emotional test: managing my fractured limb, supporting a hospitalized parent, caring for a young child, and fulfilling work responsibilities simultaneously. This convergence of pressures laid bare the often-invisible burdens many quietly carry. Empathy, in such circumstances, transcends mere sympathy—it demands a deep recognition of life’s multilayered struggles and an authentic response to those hidden complexities. Snowstorm Stranded: Empathy in Action Enduring an 18-hour airport delay with family amid a relentless snowstorm starkly highlighted humanity’s essential needs and the profound impact of compassionate deeds. Hearing or watching something similar vs living the same was a different dimension of experience. Witnessing acts of kindness—sharing nourishment, shelter, and patience—reinforced that empathy is an active, practical force, essential for alleviating collective suffering. The Working Mother: Empathy for Ambition and Sacrifice Observing my wife’s journey balancing a demanding entrepreneurial career alongside motherhood revealed a daily testament to resilience and sacrifice. Her path demanded empathy beyond abstraction—an appreciation of the ongoing challenge to reconcile professional aspirations with familial devotion, while confronting societal expectations and advocating for supportive structures for working parents. These diverse experiences reinforced that empathy is a dynamic discipline—one requiring presence, reflection, and purposeful engagement. Compassion bridges divides, alleviates isolation, and builds resilience, qualities indispensable for leaders and individuals devoted to nurturing understanding rather than judgment.

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I hope this post finds you well. But what if it doesn’t? ❤️‍🩹 The Cancer@Work study shows that 50% of people with cancer fear disclosing their condition at work. This has to change! As a founding partner of the Working with Cancer Pledge, Beiersdorf is committed to creating a safe, supportive and stigma-free workplace for employees affected by critical illness. With our global Critical Illness Policy, we are providing financial stability and job security for up to one year for diagnosed employees as well as compassionate leave for primary caregivers — regardless of local security systems. Because we #CareBeyondSkin.

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By becoming the default problem-solvers, leaders may unintentionally limit their team’s growth. This insightful Harvard Business Review article offers practical questions leaders can ask to remain accessible while empowering their teams with the confidence and problem-solving skills needed to elevate organisational performance. A good read for leaders seeking to inspire growth, autonomy, and sustainable effectiveness. #Leadership #TeamGrowth #Effectiveness https://lnkd.in/eRdauYex

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”While mid-level leaders are often offered structured onboarding programs, frequent manager engagement, 1:1s, skip-level 1:1s, and formal mentorship, senior leaders often enter a new role or organization to…silence. They transition from being nurtured and assessed to operating largely on their own, expected to execute flawlessly in unfamiliar terrain.” Very accurate article about why senior leaders don’t get the support they need and how we can close the gap. 💡👌🏼 https://lnkd.in/dxus8VgG

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