Case Study: When Compassion Becomes the Bridge to Breakthrough
Anita, a senior manager in a technology company, volunteered for a cross-sector mentoring program and was paired with Bijetri, a young woman working in a high-pressure healthcare nonprofit. In their fourth session, Bijetri arrived visibly tense. Her voice was shaky as she explained how her supervisor had publicly criticised her for a mistake she made while juggling multiple emergency cases. Instead of slowing down, she rushed through the story, minimizing her feelings: “It’s fine, I just need to be tougher.” Anita felt the urge to fix the problem — to jump into strategies and action steps — but remembered a mentorship insight from her training: people often need to be heard before they can hear anything. She sensed that coaching her immediately would bypass the emotional truth sitting beneath the surface.
Compassion is operationalized through presence and genuine inquiry. Anita gently paused the conversation. “Before we go into solutions,” she said softly, “I want to understand how this felt for you. What was the hardest part of that moment?” The question opened a door. Bijetri’s composure cracked, and her eyes filled with tears. She expressed feeling humiliated, unsupported, and terrified of failing her team — emotions she had never voiced at work. Anita didn’t interrupt, judge, or redirect; she listened with steady presence, modelling the “psychological safety” and “air cover”. Air cover is the protection a leader provides so their team or mentee can take risks, learn, and grow without fear of being attacked, criticised, or punished. Only when Bijetri finished did Anita ask, “How can I support you right now?” — a simple question that built trust and showed genuine care.
Feeling safe and understood, Bijetri gained the emotional grounding she needed to reflect more clearly. She admitted that she had been hiding her exhaustion and fear of disappointing others — patterns rooted in the expectations of her workplace culture: toughness without vulnerability. With Anita’s gentle guidance, she explored how she might communicate her workload honestly to her supervisor, request practical support, and rebuild her confidence through small, achievable steps. Over the next month, Anjali implemented these changes and reported feeling lighter, more centered, and more respected at work. Anita later realised that her most impactful mentoring moment came not from advice, but from compassion — holding space without judgment, meeting Bjetri where she was, and helping her locate her inner strength.
Compassion (करुणा)
shows up when mentors:
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Compassion begins when we stop assuming what someone needs and start listening for what they actually want. It shows up through gentle questions like “What would be helpful right now?” or “What’s one small way I can support you today?”
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Compassion means acknowledging mentees’ aspirations with curiosity and respect, even when they seem unrealistic under current circumstances. A mentor signals, “I see you not just as you are today, but as who you’re trying to become.”
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Compassion means that a mentor holds space for the mentee’s struggle while trusting their capacity to navigate it. Say this, “I’m here with you — tell me more,” instead of “Let me fix this for you.”