Compassion in Practice

On-demand presentation of the Leaders Edge for Lawyers Series. Originally presented on October 22, 2026.

This practical lunchtime session explores compassion not as ‘softer’ but as a leadership skill that improves performance in demanding environments. When people feel unheard or unseen, they tend to protect themselves – holding back questions, concerns or uncertainty. When they feel seen, they think more clearly, contribute earlier, and the quality of work improves.

In the pace of post – pandemic work, many working environments have become more transactional: Conversations are shorter, interactions task-focused, and time is tightly accounted for, in many cases, billable. It’s understandable. The toll is connection, and the danger of it giving way to efficiency, and then something is lost: people stop speaking up early, thinking out loud, and bringing their best judgment to work or a conversation.

We’ll explore why many leaders unintentionally become efficient rather than generous listeners under pressure, and how small shifts can significantly improve trust, judgment, and team performance. Compassion doesn’t lower the bar; it changes how people experience the bar.

Session will include:

• What makes Compassion, Connection and Mattering so essential to Leadership today
• Why generous listening improves decision-making
• How the cadence of connection influences confidence, accountability and engagement
• Why compassion changes people’s experience
   

PRESENTER:

Jennie Gilbert (Leadership Development Specialist)

Jennie Gilbert is a dynamic, compassionate and progressive facilitator. Constantly in demand as a Leadership Development Specialist, as well as facilitating a wide range of courses for students at SAIT and corporate participants. She creates and delivers developmental sessions for businesses, as well as webinars and podcasts, most recently as co-host on the Leading Beyond Any Title podcast.

Her career has given her a broad range of solid experience across the fields of education, corporate business, both profit and non-profit organisations, from England to Canada, a few trips to Everest Base Camp and all the adventures that a family of five bring. 
 

Participant Disclaimer
All materials related to this event are for the sole use of the registrant, and may not be copied, reproduced, uploaded, posted, publicly displayed, translated, distributed, shared, modified, made available on a network or other website, used to create derivative works, or transmitted in any form or by any means whatsoever without the prior express written permission of the Canadian Bar Association.

Once payment has been processed for an on-demand event, registrations are non-refundable and non-transferrable. Substitutions are not permitted.