The Human Equation

“The Human Equation”

- Andy Griffith, The Andy Griffith Show (Season 1, Episode 4)

“Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”

- Mel Brooks, The 2000-Year-Old Man

Mel Brooks hilariously captures the absurd imbalance in how we experience suffering; our own misfortunes feel monumental, while someone else’s disaster can seem distant or even comical. It’s all a matter of perspective.

When tragedy strikes someone close to us: our mother, brother, daughter, spouse, or best friend, we feel it deeply.

But if it happens to a stranger? “Who gives a crap?”

It’s funny, and it’s true. Sympathy comes naturally when the pain is ours. But as leaders, we’re called to something higher: empathy.

Sympathy is an emotional exercise, while empathy is an intellectual one.

…that’s what I call empathy. We must try to put ourselves inside their skin and look at us through their eyes, to understand the thoughts that lie behind their decisions and their actions.

- Robert McNamara, The Fog Of War

Effective leadership demands empathy to understand and inspire others. We must be able to view problems from various perspectives. This approach not only helps us find the best solutions but also allows us to communicate our decision-making process clearly, making it easier for others to understand and accept our choices.

In pursuing goals, profits, and performance, we must never lose sight of the human element. Leadership isn’t just about getting results but also about how we get them.

We should always look for a win-win scenario, where we create symbiotic relationships rather than parasitic ones. While parasitic leadership may produce short-term gains, it ultimately fails in the long run. Basically, it’s the old saying:

“Take care of your people, and your people will take care of you.”

Or even better:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

It’s not only effective leadership, it’s the right thing to do.