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Empathy: My North Star
Robyn T. Mingle
SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer CommScope
Without question, the global pandemic has rocked most of the world. Be it person, business, community, or country, we’ve all been united by adversity, but also by our decisions and actions as we’ve navigated this first-in-a-century global health crisis.
As a parent, community leader, and senior HR executive of a 30,000+ global organization, there is one north star that has guided me through this unprecedented time: “Treasuring Trust and Embracing Empathy” (aka the new T&E). This star has shone through all the haze and guided my every move. It’s been that critical. While I feel blessed that I can take care of my family, my immediate concern has centered on the thousands of employees around the world who entrust their care in CommScope as their employer. Every single person has a circumstance that is unique to them, with which we need to empathize. I’m so proud of my company, because empathy has been at the center of every one of its decisions and actions. This goes well beyond providing flexibility to our workforce, extra-safe working conditions for our essential workers, and money to charities. It includes things like providing extra paid time off so employees can serve their communities at food banks, so they can make masks, etc. We have also been conducting personal outreaches to our large retiree community to ensure they have access to food.
The children of our employees have also needed support, love, and – frankly – things to do! So, we created an At-Home Parent/Child Toolkit with 400+ active hyperlinks to websites that provide education, entertainment, arts and theater activities, parenting tips, and more. For example, they can virtually tour the Egyptian Pyramids, walk along the Great Wall of China, visit zoos and museums all around the world, or have a princess read them a bedtime story. We shared this valuable resource with hundreds of other employers (and every friend and neighbor I could find) to help the children (and their parents!).
Lastly, I must say that managers often get a bad rap. Sometimes, they deserve it; however, this pandemic has reschooled every manager (and every employee) in the importance of empathy and trust. I truly believe we’re getting through this together because of empathy, and we’ll be better because of it.
Thank you, Elliott Masie and friends, for shining a light on empathy on many afternoons throughout this pandemic. You’ve filled my tank at the end of some difficult weeks, so I could help fill the tanks of others. For that, I’ll be forever grateful.
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