“Only the soul that ventilates the world with tenderness has any chance of changing the world.”
Those are the words of Father Greg Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention, rehabilitation, and re-entry program in the world. If you’re not familiar with Father Boyle or his remarkable collection of books, watch this 11-minute video of him addressing the students of Notre Dame in 2017. As Stephanie Bai of The Atlantic wrote recently, “Boyle’s singular gift is his ability to see—and communicate—the best of humanity in those who are often considered the worst of it.”
Incivility at work is an intensifying reality. It can get the better of us and bring out the worst in us. This week, practice “ventilating your soul with tenderness” and work to create spaces that foster civil conversation and muscle building. I think you’ll find the whole team gets stronger as a result.
This week’s episode comes from the Finding The Words column, a series published every Wednesday that delivers a dose of communication insights directly to your inbox. If you like what you read, we hope you’ll subscribe to ensure you receive this each week.
