Empathy and Africa :: Controversy & Control

Empathy - Natures Blueprint Solution to everything #Pi

Empathy and Africa :: Controversy & Control

Africa is the storm of the planet. Where greed and control has been the mainstay of the leadership throughout the ages. Controversial and uncontrollable ego's have driven the continent to her knees. Her people weeping inside for a time when peace and harmony greets the glorious weather and wealth of habitat.

The significant changes taking place across the continent where leadership is no longer in control – despite them believing they are. The youth pushing through the drought stricken lands lathered with poverty are creating the change their forefathers dreamed of.

'Not just a fairytale nor a utopian dream.'

Globally, empathy has very recently become a valuable asset in management, as the old style corporate business mechanisms no longer suit the connected generation. This generation who can find any information they want, have learned the truth about the leaders they put their faith in. They have grown to better understand how things happened and why, so as to change the future, now.

The generation that uses the experience of all prior generations, via the access to global knowledge the internet provides, and does things right. The youth of today recognise that there is much room for improvement. They're driven to solve real problems that exist among the majority. That is, those that are commonly classed as 'unbanked'. Yes, they're the majority. You, reading this... you're the 1%.

Move over Ego :: Empathy has arrived

Global thought leaders, business leaders and those in influential positions are calling for Empathy as an important management training technique.
What's interesting to note is that this shift is also aligned with the balancing effect of more females in the decision making process and better acceptance of people from outside our normal sphere.

I've recently re-visited an 'Empathy Canvas' by Dave Gray on Medium

This is a very very important tool to use when realigning thinking. Today I encountered a post by @dearearthpeople on Instagram:

'I believe the best way to change the world is in concentric circles.
Start with yourself and work your way out from there.
If you get yourself sorted out, then that is one less person for the world to worry about.
You'll be in a position to contribute rather than consume.
You will add order rather than disorder.'

• James Clear #quoteoftheday

This brings me to alignment of self. Knowing what you know deep inside and letting it rise to the top. So many of us live in a shadow of who we truly are. [link] Never truly believing in our capabilities or even allowing us to believe that we have capabilities.

Empathy can only begin with a true, deep understanding of self. You cannot feel others if you do not know how you feel or would feel in their situation.
Which is what empathy is. When you feel what others are feeling.

Where does Africa stand in the Empathy chart?

Largely unknown to the 1% is the deep connection to one another that Africans have. Because of migration of millions across treacherous conditions, a strong 'tribal' bond is formed. These bonds are seen in community money lending, aiding one another in a crises, ensuring every family has at least a little food. Their communications, even without devices, is far superior, more reliable and faster than you'd imagine possible.

For example:
Settlements: a Malawian friend in Cape Town, sister was shot in the back whilst walking home. Accidentally caught in cross fire. Her boss had kept her late to help set up for a party. No extra pay. Walking at night in the settlement is literally suicide. The family couldn't afford the hospital and the trip home to Malawi so the community stepped in. They gathered enough cash to buy her a new outfit, pay her hospital bills and a bus ticket home with food and money for the family.
No banks needed.
No loan sharks.
No debt.
Just pure giving

One of many hundreds of stories I can relate of how the African communities gather to help one another, to do what is best for the majority and to make life breathable for everyone. These are the poorest, most deprived, confused and afraid humans on the planet. This is their first calling.

To 'be of service'.

African youth have this inbred, what they also have is information. They have global knowledge at their fingertips and they're driven beyond innovation for innovation sake, to redesign their future.
In a prior article I wrote about the age of the African youth. 18-24 is the current age of the largest portion of the population across Africa. They're mostly poor but you'll not find a more tenacious lot of young adults anywhere on the planet

Their initiative and thirst for knowledge will not hold this lot in 'check' for very long. They're not going to abide by old school egotistical rules that leave their families and friends by the wayside whilst they live the glorious life.

During my exploration of Empathy with the question: can it be taught?

I've encountered a number of people who have said they're empathic yet don't pay attention to the signals others are sending. Is that because their ego steps in front of their empathy?

According to the Empathy canvas map, it can be taught. What we see in the changes afoot in Africa in technology, leadership, business, Empathy is a strong bind in the digital era workspace.
It's becoming inherent in how we do things, how we approach employing people and how we treat them.

I don't know if there are enough of the old school fogies willing to capitulate their hierarchical ways to bow down to the requirements of losing Ego, to attain Empathy.

The tipping point arrives when these youngsters are making decisions. Let's hope we can impart sufficient wisdom (probably something we can't really learn from Google... or can we? ) to the youth to ensure they don't stumble and fall in the rush 'to do good'

The ego predators and greed mongers are still out there waiting to pray on unsuspecting innovators who believe in the good in everyone.

Empaths run the risk of realising too late they're being taken for vulnerable. They're so busy looking at the goodness of the soul, they miss the most obvious rot on the surface that will bring no joy.

Empathy :: Africa is leading the way in showing how it's done. We just never took notice.