Save the Day With Empathy
Empathetic Leadership Tip of the Week
As leaders, we often underestimate the impact our words and actions can have. A small gesture, a kind word, or even just being present in the moment can change someone’s entire outlook. You never know what battles others are facing, but by leading with empathy, you have the power to be a "Daymaker" — someone who can uplift, inspire, and make a real difference in the day-to-day lives of those around you.
Empathetic Leadership in Action
One day, a woman walked into David Wagner’s salon for a seemingly ordinary haircut. She wasn’t just a typical client, though—her demeanor was somber, her energy low, as if a dark cloud hung over her. What Wagner didn’t know was that she had come into the salon that day with a heartbreaking decision already made: she planned to end her life that very evening. Her visit to the salon was meant to be her final act of normalcy.
As Wagner began the appointment, he treated her the way he did all his clients—with genuine kindness, warmth, and attentiveness. But this time, it meant more than ever. He wasn’t just cutting her hair; he was unknowingly giving her something she desperately needed: hope. His attentive listening, care, and compassion made her feel seen, valued, and appreciated, perhaps for the first time in a long time. The interaction, which may have seemed routine to him, was anything but to her.
After the appointment, Wagner continued with his day, never realizing the profound impact he had made—until weeks later. The woman returned to the salon, this time with a different energy. She shared with Wagner that on the day of her previous visit, she had intended to take her own life. However, the kindness and connection she felt during her appointment shifted something inside her. It was enough to make her reconsider and, ultimately, to choose life.
That day, Wagner wasn’t just a hairdresser—he was a daymaker, someone who changes lives through simple, genuine acts of kindness.
This Week in History
On October 16, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was informed of Soviet missile installations in Cuba, marking the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The discovery of these missiles, capable of reaching major U.S. cities, led to a tense 13-day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union. Both nations came dangerously close to nuclear conflict as the world watched in fear. Through intense diplomatic negotiations and a naval blockade, the crisis was resolved with the Soviets agreeing to dismantle the missiles in exchange for a U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba and a secret removal of U.S. missiles from Turkey.