In this post, I share the 3rd Principle of the Authentic Leadership model -
EMPATHIC RESONANCE.
“If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.”
Little is left of Nikolas Tesla legacy to human kind. This quote, however, has become increasingly more meaningful as Astronomy, Physics and, particularly, Quantum Physics bring into light the hidden and still very much mysterious works of the sub-atomic particles that constitute our Universe. Physical reality, we now know, is composed by a constant energy flow, exchanged between particles vibrating at different frequencies.
Although the phenomenons observed at a quantum level are not perceivable by humans on a macro level, we can still easily realize how energy and vibration are fundamental principles working in and all around us.
One popular example is found in music. Sympathetic resonance or sympathetic vibration is a harmonic phenomenon where a vibratory body, such as a tuning-fork, responds to external vibrations of another tuning-fork to which it has a harmonic likeness.
In recent times, supported by discoveries in the Neurosciences field, the term Empathic Resonance has been brought into the forefront of the therapeutic relationship. The ability of the therapist to echo and feel into and together with his/her client is as important (if not more important) than the theoretical models and the technics employed during a therapeutic process. As obvious as this may sound for some, rarely we are trained to develop the ability to tune into ourselves and, from that place of emotional availability and vulnerability, connect with others.
To empathically resonate in the therapeutic process, first we need to be present to ourselves (the first Principle of our Authentic Leadership model). Bring into awareness how we feel and how our energy is flowing in our system. Then, we are able to connect with another human being, receiving his/her verbal and non-verbal communication as energy and information that will affect and influence our inner state. All emotions, feelings, physical reactions, images or memories that might surface in us are correlated to the relationship dynamic established in that moment and ALL of these responses are vital information enabling us to identify and experience what is being shared with us.
Empathic resonance is one of the most vital tools in interpersonal relationships and we need to trust it as valid information whether we receive and process it as positive or negative experiences within us. It is information that we can and should use when relating to the other person in the dyad because it will brings a deeper and more human understanding of the conflict, pain and chaos that they might be experiencing.
This innate ability to resonate with others is equally valid to any other context or form of relationship. In corporate trainings, we often find that this is the Principle that unblocks group dynamics heavily affected by conflicts because it brings in the human perspective and it opens us up to the vulnerability of others.
All human interactions create resonance or dissonance. Our inner state influences and is influenced by others whether we are conscious of it or not. Connecting with someone might be inspiring, filling us with creative energy or it might drain us and sink us into depletion. Simultaneously, our individual and collective actions resonate with our planet and the state of our planetary ecosystem resonates back into us.
This brings self-responsibility, especially in a moment where we face one of the most serious humanitarian crisis and ecological breakdown.