Empathy without agency can leave us standing on the sidelines (I said that, 2026) We often talk about empathy as though it is the answer. If we could only understand what another person was feeling, we assume, we would treat them differently. We would notice their discomfort. We would recognise when something was wrong. We … Continue reading Strategic Empathy: The Missing Link Between Understanding and Action
From Bukangi to Bystandership: How Unity Can Inspire Us to Act
I love reading media stories that connect to my work. Unfortunately, many focus on the harm and the silence of others. However, one story made me smile and allowed me to look at what helps to motivate action as opposed to inhibiting it. It involves a shark called Bukangi and unity. Something quite wonderful is … Continue reading From Bukangi to Bystandership: How Unity Can Inspire Us to Act
Bring Him Home: How Love, Loss and Longing Can Inspire Us to Act
Sometimes the experiences that hurt us most can help us understand why it matters to act when someone else is in trouble. Over the weekend I visited in London with my wife. Whilst in Covent Garden, I heard a song that has the power to stop me in my tracks and to make me cry. … Continue reading Bring Him Home: How Love, Loss and Longing Can Inspire Us to Act
Do we really know who we work with?
Some of you reading this may have read a previous blog I wrote about the drama ‘Tip Toe.’ Starring Alan Cumming and David Morrissey, the drama presented a range of messages which I feel were missed by many who focused on the violent act that we saw in the first minutes of the first episode. … Continue reading Do we really know who we work with?
Why Picasso may have accidentally explained the psychology of active bystandership.
“We don’t grow older. We grow riper.” — Pablo Picasso I was wandering around a bookshop recently with my book-mad wife. I stumbled across this quote from Pablo Picasso. In my work, I often talk about the transitions in our lives. From our early years to our teenage years. From our teens into our 20’s … Continue reading Why Picasso may have accidentally explained the psychology of active bystandership.
