The Cost of Not Caring

In this this audio clip (2:54), I recap what makes an incident “critical” and the crisis state that follows a tragedy.  I also make a case for responding to people in crisis with compassion and care.  People who do not feel care from their organization (like work, school, church, etc.) will often respond in kind.  Social psychologists refer to this as the “Law of Reciprocity“.  The New Testament challenges this reaction by encouraging: “do not repay evil for evil or insult for insult” (1 Peter 3:9).

But, because we’re not our “best” and most mature selves following a tragedy, hurt feelings become hard feelings and retaliation seems inevitable.  With a mindset that screams: “You don’t care for me, then why should I care for you?” – this is how hurting people hurt people.  In passive-aggressive ways, they spread gossip, show up late and unprepared, refuse to solve problems that aren’t theirs to solve, have no interest in cooperation and teamwork and so on.  In aggressive-aggressive ways, they bully, intimidate and overpower to get their way, they are self-involved and focused on their own success, they reject service to others as a component of leadership and so on.

The cost of not caring for those hurting in our organization is costing us in energy, innovation, cooperation, satisfaction, productivity, problem-solving, engagement and more.  In this clip, I share the power and importance of caring for our hurting and why we must support those struggling.

For benefits to having a support program in your organization, please visit https://crisissupportsolutions.com/how-caring-benefits-the-bottom-line/