What if your leadership edge isn't what you accomplish, but how deeply you see people? Today on Mindful Management, Katharine Manning reveals why the empathy skills she learned supporting trauma victims are exactly what every workplace needs. You'll hear how a simple five-minute conversation can transform relationships, why curiosity beats assumptions, and how taking care of yourself first actually helps you serve others better. Whether you're exhausted from carrying your team's emotional load or struggling with a culture of criticism and micromanagement, this episode offers a compassionate approach to creating workplaces where humanity and productivity go hand in hand.
What You'll Learn:

• How to make the business case for empathy through improved productivity, engagement, and reduced turnover
• Why quick check-ins and small acts of compassion can transform workplace culture
• The power of "noisy self-care" and modeling healthy workplace boundaries
• How to overcome common barriers to empathy, including distancing assumptions and judgment
• Why leadership buy-in is crucial but individual actions still matter for cultural change
• How to master the art of listening without feeling pressured to fix others' problems
• The importance of curiosity in building genuine workplace connections
• Why acknowledging emotions without trying to solve them builds stronger workplace relationships
  
  

Katharine Manning is the President of Blackbird and a renowned expert in workplace empathy and trauma-informed leadership. With over 15 years at the Department of Justice, where she served as an advisor on victims' rights in high-profile cases including the Boston Marathon bombing and Madoff scandal, Manning brings unique insights to the intersection of justice and empathy. As the author of "The Empathetic Workplace," she distills decades of experience into practical strategies for organizations navigating trauma with compassion and effectiveness. Manning's journey from domestic violence hotline counselor to DOJ advisor to organizational consultant demonstrates her deep understanding of how empathetic leadership can transform workplace culture and improve organizational outcomes. Her work provides critical training on creating psychologically safe workplaces where both victims and employees can thrive, making her insights invaluable for leaders seeking to build more resilient and compassionate organizations.

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References:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/ 
• Website: https://katharinemanning.com 
• The Empathetic Workplace book by Katharine Manning: https://a.co/d/ikcf3JW 
• Books she recommended:
  • Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara: https://a.co/d/3nNWrEc 
• TV/Reading for pleasure:
  • Nicci French series - features a therapist who works with detectives: https://www.goodreads.com/series/67491-frieda-klein 
• Research/Data sources mentioned:
  • Gallup's annual survey on "State of the Global Workplace" (2024 data cited): https://www.gallup.com/workplace/349484/state-of-the-global-workplace.aspx 

Podcast Show Resources:

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Mindful Management: Creating a Trauma-Informed Work Environment is handcrafted by our friends over at: fame.so