Today’s episode is a little more personal. A reflection. A struggle.

Because lately, I’ve been wondering: Is empathy under attack? And if so, how do we as leaders, parents, citizens—and humans—continue to lead with empathy in a world that sometimes seems to mock, punish, or politicize it?

So today, I want to pull back the curtain and talk about what it’s like to do this work, and why—despite it all—I continue to fight for empathy at work, in leadership, and our culture at large.

Let’s dive in.

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

Key Takeaways:

• In a chaotic world, cruelty often gets mistaken for strength. 
• Empathy is not about coddling and indulgence but about the courage to pause and listen, not to react.
• Three small but powerful steps to resist the tide of cruelty and amplify empathy instead: model it, name it, protect it.

"Empathy is not weak, naive, or political. It is what allows us to build trust, resolve conflict, and create workplaces where people—and performance—can thrive." - Maria Ross

Episode References: 

• FREE upcoming 2-day virtual leadership event with me! Let's have a chat first and see if this aligns with your goals and where you are right now. Visit www.TheEmpathyEdge.com/event to sign up for a time.
• VAST Institute
• Robert Reich's Substack article, ”Trump, Musk, and The Empathy Bug”: https://robertreich.substack.com/p/trump-musk-and-the-empathy-bug
• Listener Feedback! Please fill out the short survey here at https://bit.ly/edge-feedback

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.

Connect with Maria:

Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/books

Learn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.com

Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross

Take the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy

LinkedIn: Maria Ross

Instagram: @redslicemaria

Facebook: Red Slice

Threads: @redslicemaria

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