Sarah Crawford-Bohl

So when I find myself needing courage and confidence, making that moment a step into the abyss of a difficult conversation, I try to remember my mom's moral compass and the principles she worked so hard to nurture in me. I imagine holding a compass in my hand, the cool metal upon my skin, taking a breath, a moment to pause and ground myself.

I see the directions of north, south, east and west as symbols, reminders of her core teachings. North. I think about the North Star, a guide towards the good and right thing to do. In tricky situations, I remember my mom's voice. Be the best version of yourself. Take the high road. Say what needs to be said. South.

The S in South reminds me of support. When people support me, I feel seen, cared for. When it comes to supporting others, I try to do the same. Leaning into tricky conversations with kindness and an intention of helping people grow. And East? The E stands for empathy. Empathy sets the tone for a conversation.

As a leader, I want people to feel safe coming to me. I try to understand their feelings and create a safe place for them to be themselves. And West, the W stands for wonder. Getting curious about what might be going on for the other person. I ask questions and listen. So I understand before trying to be understood.

Kun keskitytään kompassin perusteisiin, voin muuttaa reaktiivisuutta proaktiivisuuteen, saavutettavaksi mielipiteen, jossa voin olla oikeassa arvoissani ja osallistua ääniäni. Muistan, kuinka kauan sitten pystyin käyttämään kompassia. Olin muodostunut kehitys- ja kommunikaation roolissa suurin projekti.

And while the work was complex and bumpy, I was proud of myself. I was writing good stuff, inspiring hearts and minds. Or so I thought. One day a physician came into the office where I was meeting with my boss, my boss's boss, and a number of other leaders. He had one of my newsletters printed out and was waving it in the air. Who's the cheerleader sending out this stuff? As an optimist...

Sometimes to a fault. I knew right away that cheerleader was me. While I was embarrassed, I had a split second to decide. Stay silent or speak up. The compass came in handy in that moment. North Star. What was the good and right thing to do? Well, I needed to own my work. Take the feedback. So I said, that would be me.

He lowered his arm and said, well, this is too positive, not an accurate representation of what we're going through. While still defensive, I remembered support and empathy. I wanted to create a safe place where he could feel seen and heard. So I suggested we sit down together so he could better understand his concerns. Next step, wonder.

We went to his office and I asked curious questions. And over some tea, he told me his story. He got out a red pen and circled the nine times I'd mentioned something positive in that article. I acknowledged. It was too many, understandably devaluing. I then asked if we could look for times I'd mentioned challenges. To his surprise, and frankly my own,

18 kertaa. 18. Minä mainitsin asioista, joita pitäisi ratkaista. Olin voinut antaa häneltä tietoa, että olin yllättynyt kutsumaan ympärilleni. Ja hän kertoi. Tiedätkö, se aikaa, jonka käsitimme yhdessä, oli tärkeää minulle. Ja luulen, että me molemmat otimme jotain tärkeää pois.

So I always remember the moral compass. North, north star. South, support. East, empathy. And west, wonder. I know when I'm true to my compass, I'm courageous, confident. The person I want to be, and I think the daughter my parents would be proud of.

and with my husband and our two daughters, I get the chance to pay it forward. So I hope you'll join me in leaning into tricky conversations, not only finding our voices, but understanding the imperative to use them. Stand up against the wrong, champion the right, and be the voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.

No matter how shaky or unsure, we can be a powerful instrument of change and advocacy, leaving all people involved stronger as a result. Thank you.