Accountability without compassion creates negative cultures that can't retain talent, while compassion without accountability creates avoidant cultures that can't perform. The need for both compassion and accountability is greater than ever before. On this episode of The Forward Thinking Podcast, FCCS VP of Marketing and Communications Stephanie Barton is joined by Nathan Regier, CEO of Next Element and author of Compassionate Accountability. Together they consider the importance of combining human connection and accountability in performance in ways that benefit all involved parties.

Episode Insights Include:

Compassion and Accountability

• Compassion is much more than sympathy – it means to literally suffer with another.

• Many problems don't need to be fixed, they simply need to be journeyed through together.

• Compassion needs to be a co-creative process.

• Accountability is the co-creative process of getting things done.

• Accountability and compassion can't exist in isolation, they have to work together.

Why does this concept matter?

• Conflict can happen in a way that brings people closer together when compassion and accountability are present.

• The compassion mindset allows people to approach conflict with a productive mindset.

• People struggle with this concept until they realize that compassion and accountability can change our world.

Defining a compassion mindset

• The compassion mindset understands the choices we make have a material impact on others and on outcomes.

• It is a fundamental choice that we have the opportunity to make.

• Value, capability, and responsibility are the three choices of the compassion mindset.

Bridging the divide with a compassionate mindset

• Mindset is the first essential step.

• Skill set is critical to ensure that the correct behaviors have been learned.

• The bridge between compassion and accountability is conflict.

• There is no other way to get to compassion and accountability than through conflict because the purpose of conflict is to create.

Navigating trust and conflict

• Conflict provides opportunities to build or destroy trust.

• ORPO can help navigate conflict - Openness, Resourcefulness, Persistence, and Openness to safety.

• Every interaction is an opportunity to choose drama or no drama.

• Ask yourself what would happen if you interacted with every conflict with respect.

Incorporating compassion and accountability into culture

• Consider how your efforts support human value.

• No matter your company's brand, it is an indicator of your company's culture.

• Culture will always drive the brand.

• There is no excuse for anyone to dismiss their lack of efforts for compassion - growth is always an option.

• Consider the end result that you really want, then act accordingly.

This podcast is powered by FCCS.

Resources

Connect with Nathan Regier — Nathan Regier

Get in touch

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"Compassion doesn't mean to take away the suffering, it means to join with people and walk together through the suffering." — Nathan Regier

"We can't have compassion and accountability in isolation, they just have to work together." — Nathan Regier

"If compassion and accountability can coexist, it can change our world." — Nathan Regier

"There is no other way to get to compassion and accountability than through conflict." — Nathan Regier