Dig Deeper: What Archaeology Can Teach Us About Empathy & Compassion

In the rush of daily deadlines, back-to-back meetings, and overflowing to-do lists, it’s easy to focus only on what’s visible - the behaviours, the performance, the things right in front of us.

But what if the key to stronger leadership and deeper connection with your people lies beneath the surface?

In this edition, we’re digging into two powerful building blocks from our Great Boss Building Block Model™ - Empathy and Compassion - and exploring how they can transform how we lead. And we’ll do it through an unusual but meaningful lens: the world of the archaeologist.

Just like archaeologists, great leaders take time to uncover what’s hidden, understand the full story, and act with care.

4 Ways to Lead Like an Archaeologist

1. Curiosity Without Judgment

Archaeologists approach every dig with curiosity, not assumptions. They seek to understand how people lived - not to judge or label it as right or wrong.

Leadership takeaway: Empathy starts with curiosity. Ask, “What’s behind this behaviour?” instead of rushing to conclusions. Suspend judgment and lean into understanding.

2. Uncover Hidden Layers

The best archaeologists don’t go in with heavy tools. They use delicate brushes and work with care, revealing layers of meaning and context without causing harm.

Leadership takeaway: Empathy and compassion mean going deeper. Don’t just react to surface actions and behaviours - take time to uncover what someone might be feeling or experiencing underneath. Respond with patience and care.

3. Piece Together the Bigger Picture

Finds are rarely whole. Archaeologists often work with fragments, slowly piecing them together to form the bigger artifact or story.

Leadership takeaway: People are the same. To truly support someone, you have to connect the dots - history, stressors, context. Compassionate leaders look beyond isolated moments to see the full person and situation.

4. Respect Different Cultures and Stories

Archaeologists don’t impose their worldview. They approach different cultures and time periods with respect, seeking to understand stories on their own terms.

Leadership takeaway: As Brené Brown says, “Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment.” And crucially, she also says we can never fully get into someone else’s shoes - but we can try to understand what it’s like to walk in them.

Compassionate leaders honour those differences and respond in ways that acknowledge who people truly are, not acting based on what we assume they want and need. They don’t need to have lived the same experience to treat it with care, dignity, and support.

Your Leadership Reflection

Next time you face a moment that calls for empathy or compassion, pause and ask: What might I discover if I led like an archaeologist - with curiosity, care, and the desire to truly understand?

Be the archaeologist of someone’s experience. Dig deeper. Uncover the truth. Treat every layer with care.

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DIY Leadership Development Tool

Do you or your leaders need a boost when it comes to leading with empathy and compassion?

You’re not alone. Even experienced managers can struggle to lead with empathy and compassion - especially under pressure. That’s why we created our Empathy & Compassion Compassion Card Challenge, part of our new DIY Leadership Development tools.

It’s practical, powerful, and reasonably priced - making it accessible for any business or leader ready to grow.

This pair-based activity puts participants in real-world scenarios where they practise making thoughtful, effective choices - building the confidence and capability to lead with empathy, act with compassion, and make a real impact.

👉 Click here to learn more and start building this essential leadership skill today.