There’s the value we think we’re adding to another person or organisation. But that may not actually be what they wanted.
Our value might not be as valuable as we think it is!
Empathy helps us see the world through another’s eyes. By trying to stand in their shoes, we have the potential to move closer to appreciating what they see, feel, think, and value.
This year I have all of Wednesday off from my job at school. From term 2 onwards, i’ll use that, with some other half-days throughout the week, as another opportunity to work on growing Forever Projects. But in term 1, i’m enjoying a day with my youngest son Max, who’s just started Kindergarten and gets Wednesdays off during the first term.
We’re calling them Daddy Maxy days.
Yesterday was the first one. I’ve had all of these ideas about what we could do together… climb Mt Kembla, go to Port Kembla beach for the day, get a train to Stanwell Park and watch the hang gliders off the coast, enjoy a nice coffee and hot chocolate at a cafe in town, finally teach him to ride a bike without training wheels…. the options in my mind are endless!
But when I asked him what he wanted to do…
“Let’s stay home!”
His top 3 ideas were (1) me to read him a Star Wars book, (2) jump on the trampoline together in his pyjamas and play his favourite game ’round and round’, and (3) play limbo with a random piece of string that’s tied to a door inside our house.
Talk about squandering an opportunity!
But is this about me, or him?
I’m not saying we should let our 5 year olds decide what we do all day. But I am saying I shouldn’t kid myself when the options are perhaps more about my ideas and future memories than his.
So we kicked off the day with his list, and he loved it.
Then we went into town and rode his bike, and he was thrilled with how quickly he learned to ride without the training wheels!
But we started with him.
This principle of empathy has implications for every aspect of our lives and the value we’re adding.
What value do you think you’re adding, and how could you find out if it’s actually valuable?
Potentially Kinetic 