On this episode of the Building Better Cultures podcast, we drill down on the pivotal role that empathy plays in the workplace – especially in this time of remote work and back-to-back-to-back Zoom interactions. It's about understanding someone else's perspective, yes. But equally important is the ability to fully and non-judgmentally inhabit another person's shoes, then communicate back in ways that create meaningful connection.

Our guest Rob Volpe, CEO of Ignite 360, is an "empathy activist" who consults with businesses struggling to weave understanding and compassion into workplace cultures. With his Five Steps to Build + Apply Empathy at Work, Rob shows leaders how to integrate simple – but transformational – practices to embody your brand and build self-awareness among teams across the enterprise. Studies show that organisations that prioritise empathy generate more loyalty, innovation and inclusivity among employees. You'll come away from this episode with a keen understanding of how to listen with full awareness as well as specific exercises to build your empathy muscle and invite authentic communication at every level of your business.

KEY INSIGHTS:

1. The Empathy Crisis: Many leaders find it difficult to connect with personal perspectives and are untrained in the art of leveraging the power of storytelling in the workplace.

2. Leaders who promote empathy in the workplace see significant increases in loyalty, innovation and inclusivity among team members.

3. There is a difference between emotional empathy and cognitive empathy – one that many old-school leaders don't fully understand, resulting in unfounded fears about losing respect.

4. Rob's Macro-Level Framework:

- Bring self-awareness in deciding how to show up.

- Have the courage to practice empathy.

- Adopt The Five Steps, which require practice and inevitable stumbles.

- Offer yourself grace and forgiveness.

5. Rob's Five Steps to Empathy:

- Dismantle judgment: Notice negativity and resist casting aspersion.

- Reframe Questions: Skip "why" – with its negative, closed associations and undertones.

- Listen Actively: Be present and use all your senses to take in what others are saying.

- Integrate Understanding: Stay open to and curious about divergent points of view.

- Use Solution Imagination: Take what you've heard to advance the conversation, closing the gap between knowledge and action.

>>> Rob's Top Tip: Be courageous. Empathy is acquired one step at a time!

LINKS:

Company: https://www.ignite-360.com Book: https://www.5stepstoempathy.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe/

ABOUT SCOTT:

Learn more about Scott McInnes, your host and the Founder and Director of Inspiring Change, by clicking here.

ABOUT WORKVIVO:

If you're struggling with communications in this time of new hybrid workplace conditions, click here to explore Workvivo, a collaboration platform that offers seamless digital integration.

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