The Importance of Compassion in Communications

Communicators have the power to inform, influence and lead the way with words. What we say and how we say it matters. Sometimes, we forget to be as caring as possible with those words. PR professionals need to acclimate to the rising temperatures of today’s public sentiment. 

People seem quicker to anger, and statistics show that there’s been a historic rise in anxiety and depression disorders. Infusing compassion with PR could be a helpful strategy to position professionals as calming, grounded advisers.

Rev. Dr. Ann Helmke is a faith liaison for the Faith-Based Initiative/Compassionate San Antonio. Her role with the City of San Antonio is to form collaborations between the faith community and organizations of all kinds to mobilize collaborative efforts to meet the most vulnerable of needs. 

Helmke shares her insights in this month’s column.

Why is it important for PR professionals to embrace compassion? 

Compassion skills and implementation of those, are foundational to all work. No matter what professional or societal sector one may work in, violence and disconnection, suffering and harm happen and exist through our words, actions, thoughts and intentions. All of us are receivers and contributors to individual and collective pain, and trauma. Compassion is the replacement — the antidote — to such a toxic cycle. 

What should communicators know about integrating compassion into communication messages? 

A basic concept would be the Ethic of Reciprocity, also known as the Golden Rule, which is foundational to compassion itself and is found in all the world religions. To treat all others in ways we wish to be treated ourselves and to not treat others in ways we do not wish to be treated. For me, this is the most valuable of all compassion skills as it is translatable in language and communications, in action and intent. 

For example, to speak to others in ways we wish to be spoken to ourselves and likewise to not speak to others in ways we do not wish to be spoken to ourselves; to communicate in these ways; to respect all others in these ways; to envision in these ways; to listen in these ways. 

What are some ways we can be compassionate within our organizations, communities or with our clients? 

The Ethic of Reciprocity applies to actions as well as communications, with the added Gandhian concept of “be the change you wish to see.” Those are values, ethics and concepts that can be fully enhanced by other well-researched actions of collaboration and social connection. 

Historical and current research tells us that the human species is still in existence not because of survival of the fittest, as once believed, but precisely because humans instinctively and naturally collaborate. 

So, when it comes to organizations, communities and clients, collaboration is the key lever. Apply compassion skills and do so together in We-ness. Compassion is not a solo act. Humans are social beings. We are interdependent and share a common humanity. 

How can the CompassionateUSA online course help us be more compassionate? 

CompassionateUSA grew out of and was gifted to our nation through Compassionate San Antonio. We have been experiencing such strategic movement and community healing, and with all the mass shootings, we wanted to share what we have with all others. That became CompassionateUSA, which is online and free to anyone, everywhere. 

There are two educational offerings found within CompassionateUSA — a short video series, and a deeper dive through an aligned micro-course where participants can receive a completion badge. Those could be utilized within teams at the beginning of a meeting or at a lunch and learn.