The Power of the Heart – Part 3

Part 3 – Heart Power in Business

In late December 2019 I had a premonition that something was coming towards humanity that would require all our capacities: overcoming fear, deep compassion, presence to act in a crisis, using intuition, taking action, being in service. So, I sat down and wrote non-stop for two weeks; the result was The Mighty Heart: how to transform conflict, published early 2020 (Updated publication details are here). This quickly became an online course. Experienced teachers were enlisted to deliver each of the modules, and facilitators trained to introduce the flow of the course and co-ordinate the necessary technology for sharing the teaching in break-out rooms.

Then came the pandemic. I met Angela Gallenz, head of Human Resources for H&M, the clothes retailer, who had heard me speak about The Mighty Heart, and called the next day. As the second largest clothing retailer in the world, the pandemic had caused a colossal change in H&M operations. Nearly 2,000 of their stores had to be closed worldwide. This unprecedented situation had a huge impact on the company’s financial prospects, but also on the lived experiences of each of their 100,000 members of staff.

People were suddenly confronted with overwhelming feelings including confusion, fear and loss. Feelings that had previously existed under the surface were now exposed and compounded by forces that felt completely out of their control. Loneliness and depression rose, uncertainty hung over many people’s jobs. However, while shocked and frightened for their own circumstances, the hearts of H&M’s people also went out to others in more precarious situations. They contacted staff in developing nations; for example European staff helped with the impact on their suppliers and colleagues in Bangladesh.

What did the Mighty Heart deliver?
The human impact and financial cost of the pandemic created a perfect storm for the corporation’s leadership teams. The Mighty Heart was soon running a pilot course for leaders and managers across H&M’s European region. Participants reported that they had never asked themselves many of the questions that were guiding the Mighty Heart journey. They assumed themselves to be guided only by their heads, rather than their hearts. The structured and guided course helped them open up, to create an atmosphere where everyone felt equal and able to explore and develop in their own way. They developed the skills of deep listening; deep listening comes from the heart, and subtly changes everything.
The value of the course was felt immediately; a second course was organized for a further 80 colleagues, followed by regular monthly updates to encourage further progress. Additional programs were extended to reach leaders in other regions of the corporation.

“In a world where people are facing uncertainty, loneliness, complexity and conflicts, the Mighty Heart online course is a lighthouse to find your way back to your heart, and open up to your real compassion! Guided by visionary leaders, you will get a deep dive into an awakening heart-driven leadership approach. This course will enable you to find your own answers to the fundamental questions which really matter in your life.”
Angela Gallenz, Human Resources Director, H&M Central Europe

To summarise, what can the heart do, that the brain cannot?
The heart can listen ‘with my heart to the heart of the speaker’. “I’ve learned that I enjoy human beings more if I don’t hear what they think. I learn much more by hearing what’s going on in their hearts.” [Marshall Rosenberg].
The heart does not recognize superiority or rank.
It pays attention to hunches.
In daily life, the heart has power to respond at speed: “I knew in a heartbeat what to do.”
In a courtroom, truth spoken from the heart can take your breath away. By telling the truth, the heart can change a relationship.
While the brain computes, the heart can listen, and often convey the truth.

What does the heart teach us?

• How to think with your heart – all you need do is drop down, put your hand on your heart, and ask it. (don’t use it for something trivial; do use it to respond to someone in distress).
• How to distinguish sentimentality (the Nazis were sentimental) from a real heart message. A real heart message usually includes the needs of another being, but it may also be wanting you to meet your own inner needs.
• How to decide fast when you need your heart rather than your brain. Answers from the brain don’t work in many circumstances; they tend to annoy, compete or complicate. In a crisis, you can immediately ask your heart what to do. Your heart will sense what’s needed: it may tell you to give money or run fast to save a person from violence.