The Empathy Edge

Hispanic. Women. Gay. Transgender. Neurodiverse. Black. All of these identities make up the rich mosaic of our workplaces. We know the data shows that diverse experiences drive better business decisions to identify unseen risks or opportunities, but have you considered this next group we talk about today - First Generation Professionals? This is a group that studies show exhibits a strong percentage of loyalty, motivation, and desire to pursue management positions. They should definitely be considered when looking at your talent pipeline.

My guest today is Michelle Hoover. We talk about who FGPs are and why investing in them is a win for your company. Michelle shares a little about what makes them tick (especially given her own identity as an FGP) and why understanding this will help you practice empathy if you misunderstand certain behaviors. We discuss the difference between experience and identity, what holds FGPs back, how to practice conscious curiosity, and, specifically, what you can do to harness their potential to help your organization succeed. You will leave appreciating the power of acknowledging diverse groups in your organization through mentoring and ERGs, instead of seeing such diversity as a burden.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Confronting your fears is a great way to grow, evolve, transform, and gain confidence.
• Especially with first-generation professionals, their background, family, and upbringing influence them in the business world. That's something important we need to recognize in terms of being empathetic in the workplace.
• 81% of first-generation college students cite financial stability as their reason for pursuing a college degree. They are motivated to achieve some level of financial success and stability.
• Many FGPs don’t know how to play the corporate games for promotion, they were never taught. Without empathy to see their side, leaders may see it as a lack of drive, proactivity, and initiative when that is far from the truth. 

"This is your leadership pipeline, and this helps with more early career retention strategies." —  Michelle Hoover

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge 

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse 

About Michelle Hoover, Principal, Baem Leadership

Michelle Hoover is a leadership development strategist, advisor, and executive coach. A trusted thought partner to CEOs and business leaders, she has designed, delivered, and facilitated talent-development programs for more than 15,000 learners across five continents in her 19 years in leadership development. 

Michelle is the founder of Baem Leadership, a strategic consultancy that advises global corporations, mid-stage startups, and purpose-driven organizations on empowering and emboldening their leaders — especially First-Generation Professionals — to lead themselves and their teams more effectively.

Connect with Michelle Hoover:  

Baem Leadership: https://www.baemleadership.com/ 

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

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

Newsletter: https://baemleadership.substack.com/ 

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

“For all the bold leaders embracing a more human-centered approach and performing at the highest levels, your choices impact and influence your colleagues, families, and communities, that's a win for us all.” This is just a small snippet from the dedication of The Empathy Dilemma which is out today! I am so excited to share this book with all of you who have been with me as listeners to this podcast and during this journey. Listen in to find out how you can get your hands on the book, whether one copy or hundreds of copies, and to find out more about how we can all get this book into the hands of a wider audience and spread the hopeful message of empathy to leaders everywhere. I hope you enjoy the book. I hope it is valuable for you and your team. I hope you implement some of the tactics and let me know how it goes! I’d love to hear from you.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Once you embrace empathy and see another person's point of view, you can't unsee it.
• If your favorite bookstore does not have The Empathy Dilemma, you can ask them to order it! It is widely available now everywhere books are sold. 
•  To spark a movement of empathy in the workplace and a new paradigm for culture and work, please rate and review the book on Amazon and give an honest review, whether you thought it was just okay or you thought it was amazing - it will help spread the empathy movement further.

"This book is for those leaders who want to embrace the new paradigm of leadership, but are struggling a little bit. I wanted to provide you some context, but also actionable strategies and tactics to shore up your foundation so that you can be empathetic with your teams while still expecting high performance, accountability, and results." —  Maria Ross

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge 

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse 

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Today, I have a wonderful conversation with Dr. Yosi Amram, author of Spiritually Intelligent Leaders: How to Inspire by Being Inspired. We talk about what spiritual intelligence is and how it compares to emotional intelligence, how it is not limited to a religious doctrine or even a spiritual belief in God, and how it contributes to effective leadership and high-performing teams. We talk about why command and control leadership can work in battle but not so well elsewhere, the first step to develop and deepen your spiritual intelligence, and its role in an AI-powered world. You will love the insights shared and may look at your own leadership style in a whole new way.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• While emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence are complementary, they are two distinct things.
• Spiritual intelligence transcends specific religions, spiritual experiences, and spiritual beliefs.
• Empathy is crucial to build teams no matter the type of leader you are. In battle, you need a certain level of command and control, but when you’re not in battle you need that empathy and connection.
• Our bodies are energy. Because of that, we are connected to the sun. We are connected to life. We are connected to everything.

"Spiritual intelligence becomes more important for us as humans, as more and more of the things about our life and jobs could be mechanized or taken over by AI." —  Dr. Yosi Amram

Episode References:

Atomic Habits by James Clear

How Leaders Inspire: Cracking the Code by Bain & Company: bain.com/insights/how-leaders-inspire-cracking-the-code

The Empathy Edge episodes:

Amer Kaissi: Humbitious Leadership Equals Success

Susan Hunt Stevens: The ROI of Psychological Safety

Michelle Sherman: Why The Most Successful Leaders Combine Resilience With Imagination

Dr. Michelle Zhou: Empathic AI is Real and It’s Here - But We Need Everyone Involved!

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: businessolver.com/edge

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: businessolver.com/benefits-pulse

About Yosi Amram, Author, Psychologist, CEO Coach

Yosi Amram, Ph.D., is a distinguished psychologist, an executive coach catering to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and other influential leaders, and a pioneer researcher in the field of spiritual intelligence. Holding an MBA from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from Sofia University in Clinical Transpersonal Psychology, Dr. Amram is committed to enabling individuals to unlock their potential through spiritual intelligence, which is a profound connection to the core of one’s existence that enriches their overall functioning, improves their effectiveness, and enhances their wellbeing.

Dr. Amram is the author of Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired, which offers a compelling roadmap that equips leaders with the means to connect with the true source of their authentic power and presence deep within themselves. By utilizing Dr. Amram’s modern integrative methods and practical applications, readers will transform their leadership, and build, manage, and inspire high-performing teams.

Connect with Yosi Amram:

Website: YosiAmram.net

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/yosiamram

Facebook: facebook.com/yosi.amram.7

Book: Spiritually Intelligent Leadership: How to Inspire by Being Inspired

amazon.com/Spiritually-Intelligent-Leadership-Inspire-Inspired/dp/1960583697

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: red-slice.com

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

What makes an excellent leader? Today my guest shares why he believes that leaders who develop their empathy and emotional intelligence are not just better leaders – they become excellent leaders. An excellent leader looks after their own wellbeing by looking after the wellbeing of the people they lead. Markus van Alphen is a leadership psychologist, author, teacher, trainer, organizational consultant, counselor and restorative practitioner. 

Today, Markus and I talk about what a leadership psychologist does, what is observational listening, and how it enables leaders to be more empathetic to create psychological safety, reduce burnout, and increase engagement. He shares what makes an excellent leader - and how they never need to motivate anyone! We chat about why leadership is not viewed as a standalone skill, the link between leadership excellence and corporate social responsibility, the impact of toxic leadership on your bottom line, and how to really change a culture by starting with yourself as a role model.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Your shareholders are stakeholders, but they are only one of the stakeholders. Make sure you consider all of your stakeholders in your leadership practices. 
• People often struggle in conversations because they’re too often in their heads and trying to plan the conversation within themselves, not participate in the conversation. 
• As the leader, you do not always have to have (or give) the answer to every question. Encourage collaboration in your team by demonstrating that with them. This will help to empower them and help your team learn the skills to solve the next challenges going forward.

"People are always motivated. I don't even believe that you, as a leader, need to motivate your people. I believe it's about finding out what motivates them." —  Markus van Alphen

Episode References: 

• Markus' free course form The Excellent Leadership series: https://excellent-leader.com/start-the-free-course-straightaway/
• The Empathy Edge: Colin Hunter: Disruptive Leadership and Being More Wrong: https://red-slice.com/the-empathy-edge/colin-hunter-disruptive-leadership-and-being-more-wrong/ 

From Our Partner (keep through 1/31/25):

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge 

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse 

About Markus van Alphen, Director, Excellent Leader

Markus is a leadership psychologist, author, teacher, trainer, organizational consultant, counselor and restorative practitioner. He is an authority on empathy, emotional intelligence, and well-being. Markus has a master's degree in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam and a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Cape Town. As a thought leader, he introduces the term Observational Listening, a theme he has written several books about, including The Excellent Leader and The More Excellent Leader.

Connect with Markus van Alphen:

Bureau the Excellent Organisation: https://Excellent-Leader.com 

X: https://twitter.com/MarkusvanAlphen 

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

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! https://bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

According to a CPP global human capital study, 89% of employees let their conflicts with co-workers escalate. My guest today, Kristine Scott, is out to build a future where the energy of conflict gets harnessed to create pro-social change, not division.

Kristine shares how she got into this work of coaching teams on how to resolve conflict and what she learned from young people on the street dealing with conflict effectively. We talk about why most of us prefer to avoid conflict and the false narrative we tell ourselves about our ability to emotionally connect. Kristine offers a 3-step formula for resolving conflict and gives examples of it in action. We also discuss how self-awareness and self-reflection are the keys to effectively handling conflict while also protecting your own mental health.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Most people prefer to avoid conflict because they think they’re bad at it. We are more likely to remember the times we failed at conflict resolution, not the times we handled it successfully.
• If there’s something that regularly gets under your skin, take a deeper look. Understand whether it is the action that is bothering you, or if it is what that action represents that is a trigger.
• Supervisors assume the conflict is repaired more often than it is, which can lead to performance issues and tension within the organization.
• Conflict often arises because people don’t feel heard. You can’t always solve the problem, but you can always listen with empathy and help them understand that they’re heard.

"We all have our weak points about the things that really get under our skin, and we lose all objectivity. We can work on that old stuff. We can get support, do a little therapy, and come back to not be so reactive." —  Kristine Scott

Episode References:

• Jay Baer: How Empathy Gets Your Customers Talking

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: businessolver.com/edge

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: businessolver.com/benefits-pulse

About Kristine Scott, Chief Trainer, Seattle Conflict Resolution

Kristine Scott is the founder and chief trainer for Seattle Conflict Resolution. She has taken over 20 years of lessons from high-incident social service settings and distilled truths and techniques in non-violent conflict response. What began as training for staff and volunteers became so popular she was sought out by hotels, doctors' offices, and others. She founded the company in 2018 and is now the go-to trainer for Seattle Space Needle and Seattle Farmers Markets. Her customers return because she helps them use conflict to build loyalty through compassionate boundary setting.

As of 2024, Ms. Scott has trained over 37,000 people. She promotes a future where the energy of conflict gets harnessed to create pro-social change, not division. In addition to being a trainer, Kristine is also a regular podcast guest, and media source (USA Today).

Connect with Kristine:

Seattle Conflict Resolution: seattleconflictresolution.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristinemariescott

Course for Customer Service professionals; Angry Customers, Happy Resolutions available at seattleconflictresolution.com

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Welcome to a special episode brought to you by the great folks at Businessolver! Their annual State of Workplace Empathy Report has been my go-to for years in finding out exactly how everyone from CEOs to employees thinks and feels about empathy in the workplace. The 2024 report offers so much valuable information to help all of us navigate the new world of work.

Today, I'm honored to discuss Part 1 of Businessolver's 9th annual State of Workplace Empathy study, Empathy Under Pressure, with Businessolver's chief strategy officer, Rae Shanahan. We focus on laying out the context of the mental health and workplace toxicity findings, what CEOs are currently feeling, and the stigmas and barriers to empathy in the workplace.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• 50% of employees cited a mental health issue in the past year, and the report details about 65% of Gen Z cited a mental health issue, nearly twice the amount of Baby Boomers.
• If we want to achieve our goals as a team, we cannot leave our humanity outside of the office.
• Hold your ideas lightly. Things change and, when they do and you’re given new data, it’s okay to change your mind.
• While being nice is great, you can’t “nice” your way to empathy.

"Stigmas create a fear-based environment, and people cannot bring their best selves if they’re in an environment of fear." —  Rae Shanahan

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse

About Rae Shanahan, Chief Strategy Officer, Businessolver

Rae Shanahan is an experienced executive with a demonstrated history of working in the information technology and services industry. Known for her strong business development skills in coaching, sales, team building, and healthcare information technology and management, Rae brings a unique blend of strategic insight and empathetic leadership to the table. Her empathetic approach has been instrumental in nurturing the growth of Businessolver from a dozen employees to over 1,700. Rae understands the importance of empathy in fostering a collaborative and innovative work environment, ensuring culture is always first. This perspective has guided her efforts as the current Chief Strategy Officer at Businessolver and her previous role as CEO of Innovation Works, where she supported the incubation of new business strategies and opportunities. Her initiatives, including the launch of Businessolver's Artificial Intelligence Engine, MyChoice Accounts and the Benefits Innovation Group, are all centered on delivering delight to clients and their employees, ensuring that everyone feels valued and heard.

Connect with Businessolver and Rae Shanahan:

Businessolver: businessolver.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raeshanahan

LinkedIn:  linkedin.com/company/businessolver

Twitter:  @Businessolver

Instagram:  @Businessolver

Facebook:  facebook.com/bsolver

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Only 1 month away from the birthday of The Empathy Dilemma! I am so excited to share with you the last pillar today - joy. What the heck does joy have to do with empathy or high performance? Well, joy is where many leaders get stuck. When we talk about joy at work, it means ensuring people enjoy their work, encouraging work friendships, and creating a thriving culture, even when the work itself is challenging. Today, I break down how joy benefits teams and leaders, ways you can incorporate intentional joy into your organization every day, and give key strategies for finding success in your empathetic joy journey. 

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Joy in the workplace does not mean following your bliss at every moment. It means ensuring people enjoy their work, encouraging work friendships, and creating a thriving culture, even when the work itself is challenging.
• Learn improv skills to help teams collaborate in virtually any environment. They teach you how to think on your feet, listen well, pass the ball, and even laugh at unexpected outcomes that lead to innovation.
• Team building, when done properly, can be a source of joy and can transform interpersonal dynamics for the better when your internal culture is already serving the needs of your people.

"The ability to laugh at ourselves and find humor in tough situations is a sure sign of resilience, which is just what healthy teams need - things can and will go wrong. But when we stop taking ourselves so seriously, we can engage our prefrontal cortex to problem solve more effectively." —  Maria Ross

Episode References: 

The Empathy Edge podcast: Rebecca Friese: How to Build a “Good” Culture: https://red-slice.com/the-empathy-edge/rebecca-friese-how-to-build-a-good-culture/ 

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge 

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse 

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! https://bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

What are inclusive cities? How can we shape our cities to be more inclusive for individuals and organizations? Too often, we take things for granted when designing cities and don't realize how they actually may not work for many of our citizens. Whether it's public transport, green spaces, or even how we decide what to plow first after a snowstorm - there are perspectives we don't consider in our very male-focused, majority group-biased urban planning processes. 

Today, my guest is Safaa Charafi, an architect, urbanist, and founder of Urban Inclusion. With over 10 years of experience in her field, Safaa shares valuable insights on gender-inclusive urban practices. We talk about why empathy is a pillar in building inclusive cities.  Safaa shares how she ended up in this niche field and how our cities fail us - particularly women and marginalized communities. She defines spatial justice and how it is linked to social justice. You'll also learn about some wonderful concepts you may never heard of, such as feminist cities, the right to the city, and even cities for kids

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Diversity in a decision-making group will bring better solutions to community problems. You can’t know what people need if you don’t talk to a wide group of people. 
• Diversity is not just a trendy topic. Building a community around diversity requires learning new things and unlearning things we thought we knew.
• Empathy is not about pleasing everybody, but about factoring their perspective into the decision-making. 

"Cities need to use empathy and rely more on listening to each other,  reflecting the needs and aspirations of their inhabitants. Cities are made for people, but also by people and that's something we tend to forget." —  Safaa Charafi

Episode References: 

• The Empathy Edge podcast: James Ehrlich: The Neighborhood Of The Future Is Here
• Feminist City: Reclaiming Space in a Man-Made World by Leslie Kern

From Our Partner:

Download the 2024 Ninth Annual State of Workplace Empathy study from Businessolver: www.businessolver.com/edge 

Discover more valuable content from Businessolver on The Benefits Pulse vodcast: www.businessolver.com/benefits-pulse 

About Safaa Charafi: Architect Urbanist, Founder of Urban Inclusion

Safaa Charafi is an architect and urbanist and the founder of Urban Inclusion, a consulting firm at the intersection of gender, diversity, and urban development. With a strong academic background and practical qualifications, she brings over 10 years of experience to her field. Safaa's expertise lies in social research and urban development, with a special focus on diversity, inclusion, and intersectionality. Currently, she serves as a policy officer for UNOPS, she is also a fellow of Allianz Foundation, Belgium’s 40 under 40, entrepreneur, lecturer, and speaker, sharing valuable insights on gender-inclusive urban practices.

Connect with Safaa Charafi 

Urban Inclusion: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaa-charafi/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaa-charafi/

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! https://bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/

Let me be clear: Humans ARE animals. Empathy for animals is not about thinking they're cute. It's about creating a strong connection where we understand their unique needs and habitats so we can be part of the solution to increase biodiversity, avoid extinction, and promote a healthy planet for ALL of us.

Today, I am delighted to speak to Jim Wharton. We talk about how and why to create stronger connections between humans, animals, and nature at large, why empathy is required to make change, how to make conservation personal, and when and how we can use strategic anthropomorphism (that's when we attribute human traits to animals!) without actually causing harm to them. And Jim shares the amazing 2024 expansion at the Seattle Aquarium featuring animals and habitats from the Coral Triangle which allows them to tell a more globally connected story of ocean conservation. It sounds amazing!

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• The disconnection to nature is artificial and allows people to externalize conservation and not embrace it as something that affects them as fellow animals.
• The disconnect between humans and nature is an illusion that falsely elevates humans above everything else.
• Anthropomorphism is not necessarily the problem. The real problems come with anthropocentrism - thinking the human experience is the central defining experience leading to humans harming the animals they are trying to care for.

"Developmentally we all start out being deeply, deeply connected to everything around us. We begin our lives looking at animals as anthropomorphic peers, the same as your brother or sister, there’s no difference to you. And then gradually, over time, we have “difference” educated into us and “connection” educated out of us." —  Jim Wharton

Episode References:

• Empathy Initiatives at the Seattle Aquarium: seattleaquarium.org/about-us/in-our-community/fostering-empathy-for-wildlife
• Citizens: Why the Key to Fixing Everything is All of Us by Jon Alexander
• Internet of Elephants

About Jim Wharton, VP, Conservation Engagement & Learning, Seattle Aquarium

Dr. Jim Wharton is the Vice President of Conservation Engagement and Learning at the Seattle Aquarium. Jim joined the Aquarium in 2012 from Mote Marine Laboratory where he served as Vice President of Education. He holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan, an M.S. in marine resource management from Oregon State University, and a Ph.D. in educational measurement and evaluation from the University of South Florida. Jim and the team at the Seattle Aquarium have been working with partners to explore how fostering empathy in our audiences can contribute to conservation outcomes. The Aquarium has shared effective practices and strategies for fostering empathy through publications and workshops with over 70 zoos and aquariums with a combined attendance of more than 75 million annually. The Aquarium partnered on a children’s book (and puppet show), Catastrophe by the Sea, that encourages readers to empathize with less traditionally charismatic animals. Jim is also an advocate for diversifying the way we talk about and portray sharks, shark scientists, and shark conservation in popular media.

Connect with Jim Wharton

Seattle Aquarium: seattleaquarium.org

X: https://x.com/jimwharton

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimmwharton

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

Connect with Maria:

Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.com

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

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Empathetic marketing is having a moment. But really, this trend has been a long time coming. Buyers today are savvy, everything is available online, and they have no patience for brands that don't understand them or their needs. My guest today, Tim Leon, coined the term Return on Empathy and talks about all that companies gain when they engage in more empathetic marketing tactics.

We discuss what empathy marketing means, why marketers should embrace it, and how it applies equality to B2B as well as B2C brands. We share data that shows why buyers are choosing empathetic brands, and why this is not just a trend, but a transformative moment in how we market and sell. And finally, we share actionable strategies to inject more empathy into your marketing - not least of which is understanding where marketing's limitations end and your culture, leadership, and policies need to also become part of the effort.

To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com 

Key Takeaways:

• Ask customers what challenges they’re facing, not just what they think about your product or service. You’ve got to go deeper to better understand and empathize with them. 
• Now more than ever, the companies that portray ads that promote well-being and comfort are the companies that people want to do business with. They don’t want a hard sell, they want to feel good about the brands they’re working with. 
• You have to sell to people, whether you’re working B2B or B2C. People want authenticity and empathy from the organizations they work with, no matter what industry they’re in. 

"Return on Empathy means if you're delivering empathy authentically and honestly, you're building customer loyalty and protected market share." —  Tim Leon

Episode References:

• Geile Leon Marketing Communications Return on Empathy white paper: https://bit.ly/44MiSrY
• PepsiCo/Ipsos Mori research study on empathy and brands
• Denise Roberson: Mistakes Leaders and Boards Make When Thinking About Purpose
• Lisa McLeod: Selling with Noble Purpose to Win
• Phil Preston: Profit with Purpose
• Emily Vernon: Are You Gathering the Right Customer Insights?
• Sandy Thompson: How to Make People Fall in Love with Your Brand

About Tim Leon, President, Geile Leon Marketing Communications

Tim Leon is the President of Geile Leon Marketing Communications. The firm was founded in 1989 and has served clients locally, regionally, and nationally. The firm is celebrating its 34th year in business and is located in The Hill Neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, Tim's role at the agency includes brand strategy/planning for clients, new business development, and a host of other duties that come with owning a small business!

Connect with Tim Leon:

Geile Leon Marketing Communications: geileon.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timleon

Facebook: facebook.com/GeileLeonMarketingCommunications

Join the community and discover what empathy can do for you: red-slice.com

PRE-SALE SPECIAL! Pre-order 1 to 99 copies of Maria's new book, The Empathy Dilemma for your leaders, exec team, (or yourself?!) and GET 30%! bit.ly/TEDSpecialPresale Offer ends August 27, 2024!

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

Check out this offer from our sponsor, Better Benefits USA: Are You Overpaying for Employee Benefits Without Knowing It? Take the free 10-minute benefits audit at https://findbetterbenefits.org/

Download "The Human Middle" Your free guide to resolving workplace conflict from JLG Lawyers- https://thehumanmiddle.ai/