What do you do when striving to be a more human-centered leader or colleague, trying to advance your career, build your skills, and make a difference, and you're stuck with an imperfect leader, dysfunctional culture, or too much work? You start by leading yourself!

Today, Elizabeth Lotardo and I discuss making the most of a job that’s not your dream job. Elizabeth shares why management is harder than it was 10-20 years ago, and how to work best with imperfect bosses of all kinds. We touch on how to advocate for yourself with empathy. She shares talk tracks and mindset shifts to help you navigate how you can influence controlling the controllable and put yourself back in the driver's seat. She also shares a 10-second Jedi mind trick to shift complaining employees into accountable problem solvers!

To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not your job to make someone else more empathetic. It is your job to control your reactions and the behavior that you’re modeling.
• It’s about leading yourself - not just in your career, but also through your career which includes new jobs as you choose.
• Even with all our faults, we, as humans, need one another. As you lead yourself, don’t forget those around you.

"If you are working for a human being, you’re working for an imperfect boss." —  Elizabeth Lotardo

Episode References:

• Rhonda George-Denniston: Why Betting on Your People Leads to Market Domination

Elizabeth's HBR Articles:

• How to Work for a Boss Who Always Changes Their Mind
• How to Be a Purpose-Driven Leader Without Burning Out

From Our Partner:

SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.

Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.

About Elizabeth Lotardo: VP, McLeod and More and Author, Leading Yourself

Elizabeth Lotardo is a consultant, writer, and online instructor who helps organizations drive emotional engagement. Her new book, Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have has been called a refreshingly candid playbook that helps you create a work experience worth loving, right now.

With an undergraduate degree in advertising from Boston University and a Master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, Elizabeth works with senior leaders, frontline managers, and entry-level teammates to create more purpose-driven work experiences. Her clients include Salesforce, DraftKings, Hilton, and numerous Berkshire Hathaway organizations.

She is also a popular LinkedIn Learning instructor. Elizabeth writes for Harvard Business Review and her work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal and NPR.

Connect with Elizabeth: 

McLeod & More: mcleodandmore.com 

Personal Website: elizabethlotardo.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/elizabethlotardo

Book: Leading Yourself: Find More Joy, Meaning, and Opportunities in the Job You Already Have (Despite Imperfect Bosses, Weird Economies, Lethargic Coworkers, Annoying Systems, and Too Many Deliverables)

Connect with Maria:

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria and her work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

X: @redslice

Facebook: Red Slice

Threads: @redslicemaria

Get your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Keynote Speakers and Conference Trainers: Get your free Talkadot trial and enjoy this game changer for your speaking business! www.share.talkadot.com/mariaross