The Compassionate Achiever

January 9, 2017
Going for the jugular is a popular technique in the business world—but it’s usually not the best, says professor of political science and social science Kukk in this astute but repetitious guide. A former U.S. Army counterintelligence agent, he is a firm proponent of practicing compassion in all areas of life. We live in a time of unprecedented incivility, and the narrative of success as being diametrically opposed to kindness and ethical behavior is a poisonous one. Having found compassion to be an “underappreciated but consistent” trait of high achievers in many different fields, he urges replacing “survival of the fittest” with “survival of the kindest.” Pointing to examples from the natural world and neuroscience, Kukk argues that people are “hardwired for compassion” for a reason—they accomplish goals more easily, and the achievements are more rewarding, when they take an empathetic approach. He advocates becoming proficient in the LUCA skills: listening, understanding, connecting, and acting. Bolstered with concrete advice and encouragement to nurture emotional intelligence, this is a needed reminder that compassion isn’t a passive characteristic but requires us to actually act to help each other. However, once this premise is accepted, there’s not much content here beyond repeating it, and the result feels slim.

May 1, 2017

Opposed to the idea that the key to prosperity is to look out for number one, Kukk (political & social science, Western Connecticut State Univ.) maintains that compassion and a commitment to helping others actually leads to more constructive relationships, improved intelligence, and increased resiliency. The author proposes a four-step program to cultivate such qualities: listen to learn; understand to know; connect to capabilities; and act to solve. Within each of these steps, Kukk teaches such skills as believing in win-win solutions, empathizing with other perspectives, and sharing responsibility. VERDICT Kukk's message and steps can provide effective tools to promote more productive workplaces and healthier communities.

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