What gets in the way of empathy? Our judgements, ego, and biases. It can even impact our ability to connect with colleagues and our customers. But good news: My guest today, CEO and empathy activist Rob Volpe shares research and stories from his latest book Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. 

He shares 5 steps to overcome empathy barriers and apply the insights to your brand and customer. We discuss how some marketers unknowingly dislike their customers, and how that gets in the way of effectively attracting them. We discuss the world's current empathy crisis - and how hopefully Gen Z will light the path for us!  You'll also hear from Rob's cat, Domino and we discuss our favorite ice cream flavors to illustrate how a lack of empathy can lead to bad business decisions.

Key Takeaways:

• You have to get to a place of empathy to understand what is motivating your consumers. 
• The higher up you get, as a leader, the more insulated you become. You do not always have to have the right answer and you can be wrong. Be willing to ask the questions to build out your empathy skills. 
• Empathy enables the skills that let us be the people that we want to be.
• Judgment (that is, being judgmental, casting aspersions, and making assumptions) tends to be the thing that gets in the way of empathy the most.

"There's more work in the upfront to have empathy and to get to that place of empathy, but once you're there, it makes everything else a lot easier because you're going to be more successful." —  Rob Volpe

About Rob Volpe: CEO & Empathy Activist

Rob Volpe is an astute observer of life and a master storyteller who brings empathy and compassion to the human experience. As CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team of insights, strategy, and creative professionals serving the world’s leading brands across a range of industries. He is the author of Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time. As a thought leader in the role of empathy in marketing and the workplace, he is a contributor to Entrepreneur’s Leadership Network and frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, corporations, colleges, podcasts and with the media.  He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in San Francisco with his husband and 3 cats.

Connect with Rob Volpe:  

Website: https://5stepstoempathy.com/

Book: Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/rmvolpe

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rmvolpe/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpathyActivist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empathy_activist/

Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy

Connect with Maria: 

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

Learn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: 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

Twitter: @redslice

Facebook: 

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