Considering those unlike me
Walk in another's shoes is more than a simple platitude. It is embedded in different philosophies. On the surface, the phrase crystallizes empathy. Activating the philosophy requires deeply visualizing another's perspective when making decisions at the intersection of business and society.
Making decisions for the common good are the most challenging. What is the common good? Can it be circumvented for selfish reasons dressed as purposeful?
Being raised in a rural community, I always felt like we tried to do things for the common good. The common good was caring for the land for another season and generation. The common good was giving to the church to help others or raising funds to alleviate hunger in faraway places. Closer to home, the common good was farmers gathering to help a neighbor when his wife was going through cancer.
The common good was second nature.
Compassionate actions were taken without a lot of thought. We intuitively knew what the right thing to do was, so we did it. The welfare of others mattered. Today, whether in rural or urban areas, our second nature to act for the common good has given way to narrow-mindedness and disrespect.
Although a few can put themselves in another person's shoes, specific questions arise. How often do you consider the welfare of others when making decisions or choosing to act? How often does the welfare of others include those different from us?
An impartial spectator considers the welfare of others when making tough decisions.
Putting ourselves in another's shoes broadens our perspectives and impacts the direction of our actions if done thoughtfully. We need to return to being impartial, understanding how our actions affect those outside our limited circles.
Consider a policy or pending action. Try being an impartial spectator by putting yourself in someone else's place. What does the view of the policy or action look like from their perspective and experience?
Considering those unlike us restores our sense of community.
Considering the welfare of others creates a sense of greater purpose and the common good. It takes moral imagination to embody someone else's experience. To recapture our sense of what is best for society's health and welfare, we need to keep our biases in check by balancing them with an understanding of how they impact those different from us.
How often do you consider the welfare of others? How do you try to understand the perspectives of someone different from you? It's time to practice these skills again for the sake of the common good.