One night, I had a rough sleep and woke up feeling grumpy. As I stepped into my balcony, I noticed a single shiuli flower blooming on the plant. Its fragrance instantly took me back to my childhood memories of Durga Puja – the drum beats, new clothes, delicious sweets, and fun with friends.
In just a few moments, I was transported thousands of miles away, and my bad mood lifted. This magical shift happened because of associative memory. It’s how our brain links different pieces of information together. We create these connections all the time, whether it’s with people, experiences, food, music, smells, words or streets.
These associative memories can be both positive and negative, but they play a crucial role in empathy, a vital leadership skill. Here’s how:
– Identifying with others’ emotions: When someone shares their feelings, we can recall similar experiences we have had and understand how they feel. For instance, if a team member is frustrated about a lack of resources, a leader might remember feeling the same way in the past.
– Understanding triggers: By remembering similar situations, we can understand what might be causing someone’s emotions. For example, if we had nerves as a new manager, we can help a new manager navigate giving feedback by sharing what helped us and asking him / her to build on.
– Responding empathetically: We can draw on our memories of how we wished to be supported in similar situations and come up with ways to support others effectively.
Question to reflect: Are we using our associative memories to demonstrate empathy?
Perspectives 