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In this essential episode of "Courage to Advance," host Kim Bohr and global inclusion strategist Mason Donovan tackle a critical challenge facing today's leaders: maintaining organizational cohesion in an increasingly polarized world. Their timely conversation cuts through the noise to deliver practical wisdom on fostering productive workplaces where differences drive innovation rather than division.
Through real-world examples, Mason and Kim explore how thoughtful leadership can transform potential friction points into opportunities for organizational growth. Drawing from personal experience and extensive client work, they examine why some corporate inclusion initiatives soar while others stumble, offering senior leaders a strategic framework for making decisions that align with mission and market realities.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Inclusion is for the entire organization, no matter if you are in the majority or the minority group. It is more than just policy, it is operating with a lens of inclusion in every aspect of the organization.Everybody has to own inclusion. While leaders may have a greater impact, they cannot be the only ones carrying the inclusion bucket.Politics in the US have put almost everything, every cultural decision, in either the red or the blue. Think about those connections, think about what may be said to others by those decisions, then make a decision. Hard, uncomfortable conversations will come up. Get ahead of them before they begin with policies and training."When you're a head of organization, everything that you do in public is a representative of that organization." — Mason Donovan
From Our Partner:
SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest
asset: their people. SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level.
Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.
About Mason Donovan:
Founder/Consultant of The Dagoba Group
Mason was Managing Director of Client Solutions for Personified, a human capital consulting firm, before becoming a principal for The Dagoba Group, a New England-based consultancy that specializes in leadership development in inclusion and diversity. He has over 20 years consulting clients in the areas of talent acquisition, performance management, and leading inclusive teams. Mason holds a long list of sales achievement awards for direct sales and sales management. He believes diversity and inclusion is a marketplace differentiator. Co-author of The Inclusion Dividend and SET for Inclusion. Author of the Golden Apple.
Connect with Mason:
Website: thedagobagroup.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/masondonovan
Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect
SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com
Courage to Advance recording and resources:
CourageToAdvancePodcast.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect
LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Recently, we've heard a lot about resiliency, the ability to bounce back from challenge, and grit, that ability to grind away and never give up. But we've heard less about hardiness. It turns out hardiness enhances resilience, promotes personal and professional growth, and creates a more adaptive organizational culture.
Today, Dr. Steven Stein and I talk about hardiness and how it differs from both resilience and grit. He breaks down five key components of emotional intelligence and discusses how emotions impact our ability to make (or not make) good decisions. Dr. Stein offers the three C's of Hardiness and how to improve hardiness to create a more resilient, healthy, and adaptive culture that impacts your bottom line.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
The concept of hardiness breaks down into the 3 Cs: commitment, challenge, and control.If your goal is overly ridged or too narrow, it can become detrimental and paralyzing. Resilience and hardiness definitely overlap. Where the overlap is, we see continuous improvement and forward motion.When you balance emotionality with rationality, you can make better decisions, We call that wisdom."Hardiness means I can withstand the difficult situation and I can still deal with you (as a person), I can bring you along and make you stronger, and make the organization stronger." — Dr. Steven Stein
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 Dr Steven Stein: Clinical psychologist, speaker, best-selling author of Emotional Intelligence for Dummies and Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals
Dr. Steven Stein is a world-renowned clinical psychologist, international best-selling author and sought-after speaker, and founder and Executive Chair of Multi-Health Systems (MHS), a publisher of scientifically validated assessments for over 40 years, which has been named a three-time winner of Profit 100 (fastest growing companies in Canada), one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies since 2013, and Canada’s 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures (2016, Waterstone).
A leading expert on psychological assessment and emotional intelligence, he has consulted with military and government agencies, including the Canadian Forces, U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, special units of the Pentagon, FBI Academy, as well as corporate organizations, including American Express, Air Canada, Canyon Ranch, Coca-Cola (Mexico), and professional sports teams.
Dr. Stein consults with numerous reality TV shows, including Big Brother Canada, The Amazing Race Canada, MasterChef Canada, Bachelor Canada, Real Housewives of Toronto, Bachelor in Paradise, Blown Away, and many others, providing psychological expertise and candidate selection assessments.
Connect with Dr. Steven Stein
Multi-Health Systems (MHS): mhs.com
Personal Website: stevenstein.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/drstevenstein
Book: Emotional Intelligence for Dummies
Book: Hardiness: Making Stress Work for You to Achieve Your Life Goals
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
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Today, I want to talk about something that’s been heavy on my heart: the importance of holding onto Real History as it’s unfolding, not just to understand today but to avoid repeating mistakes tomorrow.
Lately, I have felt anxious about the world we’re building and the future we’re leaving for our kids. When I look at what’s happening, I can’t help but think about the role models I want my son to emulate. It’s not just about those leaders at the highest levels. We can be leaders even if we don't have the title. It’s about us, each of us, stepping up, being those role models, and showing that we can lead with both empathy and strength.
Let’s keep leading with empathy.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
The best leaders have the humility to recognize their flaws and understand that the best, most effective decisions come from inviting expert voices that aren’t their own so they can get a clearer picture of both risks and opportunities.Use the upcoming leadership of the US to teach your children what kind of leader not to be.Kindness, inclusion, and integrity are qualities worth pursuing—not just in others, but in ourselves."We can be leaders if we don't have the title but some people, even if promoted to the title, even if elected to the title, will never be true leaders.." — Maria Ross
From Our Partner:
SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest
asset: their people. SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level.
Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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We prep ourselves for so many challenging conversations, whether asking for a raise, delivering a tough performance review, asking for more budget, or even debating a political issue as if we're going to war. We brace for the confrontation. That puts us in a really unhelpful place to have true connection and conversation - and that just intensifies the misunderstanding and animosity with no helpful outcome.
But there's a way out of this cycle. And woo boy! I clicked instantly with today's guest and I know you will, too. Today, Justin shares a very personal story about his trip back to Ghana to confront his absent father and how he changed the conversation following his own 5 pillars to bridge the divide. We also discuss how to practice conversational receptiveness, and how to avoid the dotted line dilemma and the illusion of asymmetric insights which both hinder meaningful engagements with those we don't see eye-to-eye with. Justin also unpacks actionable ways to have better conversations and cultivate curiosity through the Power of 3 Questioning module.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Plant the seeds with your kids of how to value humanity from a young age. Take them to places and events that will help them see more of the world and humanity.Be transparent when you are working on your leadership and changing conversations. Bring your team in, make it fun and light, and have one meaningful conversation per week.Just because it feels uncomfortable to learn about others and practice The Power of 3 Questioning. It doesn’t mean it isn’t working and strengthening your listening muscles."People are talking about things that are important to them. The question is, are we really listening?" — Justin Jones-Fosu
Episode References:
Justin's book: I Respectfully Disagree: How to Have Difficult Conversations in A Divided WorldThe Empathy Edge podcast: Michael Bach: What Exclusion is Costing Your CompanyBook: Dialogue: The Art of Thinking Together by William IsaacsFrom 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 and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.
About Justin Jones-Fosu, CEO, Work.Meaningful and Author, I Respectfully Disagree
Justin is a full-time dad-e who also happens to be an international speaker, a social entrepreneur, a critically acclaimed author, and a mountain climber (he recently conquered one of the famed 7 Summits). His passion for elevation extends beyond trekking, it’s mirrored in his work as the CEO of Work. Meaningful, a firm he founded in 2017 focused on workplace engagement and inclusion. He consults with, speaks to, and trains 10,000 to 20,000 people per year. He is a former radio host and former workplace contributor to NPR’s The Takeaway Justin's most recent book, I Respectfully Disagree, challenges the reader to focus on building bridges with people rather than barriers from them. He also wrote The Inclusive Mindset and Your Why Matters Now.
Connect with Justin Jones-Fosu:
Work.Meaningful: workmeaningful.com
X: x.com/iworkmeaningful
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/iworkmeaningful
Instagram: instagram.com/iworkmeaningful
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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One of the hardest jobs in business belongs to anyone with a C in their title. Today you’ll hear from Tina Kuhn and Neal Frick, co-authors and successful executives of global companies who have gone on this journey and had tremendous success.
We talk about the ROI of empathy from their own experience and what they have learned about embracing empathy as a strategic advantage. We discuss how fear and bias show up for executives and impact their decision-making. They share the rewards of being an empathetic leader, the best way to bring a leader on board to an empathy mindset, how to practice empathy when your large team is remote, and why simply being a "nice boss" without accountability can be super toxic.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Reactive leaders harm their organizations. Empathetic leaders advance organizations and the lives of those in the organizations.There’s a difference between being a nice boss and being an empathetic leader. Being “the nice boss” is actually one of the most toxic things in an organization, and that is not empathetic.Build in time for team building in remote environments. If you choose the right activities, you can create those connections."The way that I have found the most effective has been leading by example because pushing someone into a vulnerable space is the quickest way to be met with resistance." — Neal Frick
References:
The Empathy Edge podcast: Teri Schmidt: Empathy-Infused Team Building for Lasting ImpactFrom 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 Tina & Neal:
Tina Kuhn is an accomplished CEO spanning cybersecurity, commercial, and US government.
She has extensive experience in organizational transformations, growth strategies and implementation, M&A due diligence and integration, financial improvements, process and risk management, operations management, business development, and proposal development.
Ms. Kuhn has served in a variety of executive leadership roles, including the President of Proximas Group, focused on integrating 6 companies and developing a growth strategy to take advantage of each company’s strengths.
Neal Frick is the CEO of Avandra Consulting and most recently served as CEO of CyberCore Technologies, which was sold to HP. He's an author with more than twenty years of experience in organizational growth and leadership and has led successful initiatives around transformational change, strategic planning, and revenue, working with companies such as Boeing, Booz Allen Hamilton, and Lockheed Martin. His experiences have fueled his commitment to cultivating inclusive work cultures, where diversity and empathy are not just buzzwords but integral components of business ethos.
Connect with Tina & Neal:
The Lanzar Group: thelanzargroup.com
Tina's LinkedIn: Tina Kuhn
Neal's LinkedIn: Neal Frick
Medium Profile: medium.com/@TinaKuhn
Book: The E Suite: Empathetic Leadership for the Next Generation of Executives
tinakuhncommunication.com - The Manager's Communication ToolKit - Dealing with Difficult Personalities
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
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What's love got to do with it, as Tina Turner famously asked? Is there even a role for it in…the workplace? Turns out, yes, but let's be clear on what we mean by that! If you want to better resolve conflict, create inclusive cultures, and harmonize with upset customers to turn them into raving fans, this episode is for you!
Today, Chloé Valdary and I have a delicious discussion about the three principles of the Theory of Enchantment and how they apply to your workplace. We talk about the first step you can take to express gratitude for both your strengths and weaknesses and how this opens you up to better interactions and more understanding. We discuss what love at work looks like, why it's not the same as romantic love, and how it creates a healthier, higher performing, and inclusive workplace. Chloé shares what prejudice actually means and how we can combat it to create better customer experiences and inclusive workplace cultures. Finally, we debunk the myth of the know-it-all leader or expert and why constant curiosity opens you up to more learning and better results.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
We are not conditioned to share our struggles and weaknesses in the workplace. Breaking that paradigm and bringing our whole selves to work will allow all of us to grow and love.Ethically speaking, the word compassion means “with suffering.” You will experience suffering in life, but we want to enter the world in a way that doesn’t harm us as we move through it.We cannot live life with no regrets. But we can have gratitude for the experiences we have had and the lessons we’ve learned.We change over time. Do the Who Am I practice every three days or so, so you can begin to recognize your patterns and your habits of mind.""If we can remind people that they matter in every interaction that we engage in, whether it's in the business context or not, that makes an impression. That is the kind of transcendent experience that speaks to what I mean by the word ‘enchantment’." — Chloé Valdary
Episode References:
The DOJO community: enchanteddojo.comThe Tuning Fork community: enchantedtune.comThe Empathy Edge: Kristine Scott: How to Resolve Conflict with Angry Customers or ColleaguesFrom 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 Chloé Valdary, Founder, Theory of Enchantment
Chloé Valdary is the founder of the Theory of Enchantment, a New York-based DEI organization that fights against racism and bigotry by teaching love. Theory of Enchantment has trained businesses and orgs across many industries, including tech companies, hospitals, schools, and more. If you’re interested in bringing Theory of Enchantment to your business, contact the org at [email protected]. If you are an individual seeking daily practice, check out enchanteddojo.com.
Connect with Chloé:
Theory of Enchantment: theoryofenchantment.com
X: x.com/cvaldary
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chloe-valdary-92426565
Facebook: facebook.com/theoryofenchantment
Instagram: instagram.com/cvaldary
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
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Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.
Tune in to our subseries every 3rd Thursday, right here on The Empathy Edge! Or check us out at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com.
In this episode, we dive deep into the often oversimplified process of CEO evaluations. We explore why boards need to look beyond traditional metrics and uncover common blindspots in CEO assessments. We'll discuss the limitations of relying solely on KPIs and how to integrate both quantitative and qualitative measures to evaluate not just what a CEO achieves but how they lead. We'll examine how robust CEO evaluations impact critical board responsibilities like compensation and succession planning. The conversation will also touch on incorporating empathy and emotional intelligence into assessments. Finally, we'll reveal how well-designed evaluations can drive alignment between the board and CEO, fostering a culture of trust and continuous improvement. Join us as we uncover how to truly assess leadership effectiveness and drive organizational success through comprehensive CEO evaluations.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Having a relationship and building trust with some board members can create a safe space for the CEO, which can often be lonely. Soft skills are the essential skills. It doesn’t matter what your organization does, these are vital skills in understanding the inputs and outputs to create success within any organization. Data only matters if you can translate and interpret it into something useful and actionable.While hitting the “whats” is important, the “hows” of getting to those “whats” are equally as important."When we talk about sustainable organizations, and the ability for organizations to grow, just hitting the numbers isn't going to guarantee success. It's important, but it isn't the whole story." — Sandy Stelling, VP of Strategy, Analytics, and Transformation, Alaska Airlines
From Our Partner:
SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest
asset: their people. SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level.
Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.
About Sandy Stelling, VP of Strategy, Analytics, and Transformation, Alaska Airlines
Sandy most recently served as the Vice President of Strategy, Analytics, and Transformation at Alaska Airlines. A Pacific Northwest aviation leader for over 30 years, she drives change using her experience in engineering, technology, team dynamics, and process performance. She has been recognized for her collaborative, always curious, direct leadership style. Sandy believes deeply in building capability and creating capacity with individuals and teams. Her track record of building trust and coaching teams, leading through challenges and crises, and delivering financial results bring valuable perspectives to the boardroom. Sandy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University. She currently holds leadership roles on several non-profit boards.
Connect with Sandy Stelling:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sandy-stelling-1984501
Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect
SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com
Courage to Advance recording and resources:
CourageToAdvancePodcast.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect
LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Your organization may be missing out on the talent, innovation, and productivity of your workforce because of your own actions! I'm talking about accommodating disability. When we fail to invest in mindset and policy shifts, we fail to optimize the people within our organizations.
After experiencing complete memory loss due to a brain injury, my guest, Julie Harris, defied expectations as she found success in education and the corporate world. Today, we bond over our brain injury stories and discuss the definition of disability, how stigma impairs human performance, and how you may be hindering innovation and productivity. We also discuss why accommodation is not special treatment and why many fail to realize we all expect accommodations daily. Julie shares practical advice for what leaders can do to unleash the potential of disabled workers and achieve their business goals.
To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Not everybody’s disability looks the same or requires the same things, even if they are in the same category of disability.Disable and unable are not the same thing. The term disability is an accurate and correct description because it's something externally acting upon your body to make it not able.When the brain is under stress, we are only concerned with survival, which impairs your employee’s ability to do the work, impacting the bottom line."We accommodate people all the time at work and in everyday life, yet when it comes to disability, it had to be a legal right granted because those accommodations were so frequently denied. Just because one person needs a different thing doesn't mean it's preferential treatment. We're giving them exactly what they need to do their job." — Julie Harris
References:
The Empathy Edge podcasts:Michael Bach: What Exclusion is Costing Your CompanyMinette Norman: Psychological SafetyDisclo: disclo.comFrom 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 Julie Harris, CEO/Founder, Access My Ability. Author of Boldly Belong:
After experiencing complete memory loss due to a brain injury, Julie quickly defied doctors’ expectations as she found success in secondary education and the corporate world. Drawing from personal study and formal education in neuroscience, process improvement, and disability inclusion, she consults with individuals and organizations around the globe. Despite having less than 16 years’ worth of memory and knowledge, Julie is now CEO and Founder of Access My Ability and author of Boldly Belong: The Power of Being You in a Disabling Society. Her expertise has been sought after by numerous Fortune 500 companies, where she has delivered compelling speeches and invaluable consultation on disability inclusion, workplace rights, and reasonable accommodation process improvement. Julie’s goal is to demonstrate that success can be achieved through unconventional paths that defy rules and expectations.
Connect with Julie:
Access My Ability: accessmyability.org
LinkedIn: Julie Harris
Book: Boldly Belong: The Power of Being You in a Disabling Society
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
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BONUS EPISODE! Join me for a conversation with President and COO of SparkEffect, Kim Bohr as we kick off our partnership to provide you with actionable content for the next year on their podcast subseries, Courage to Advance. We talk about Kim's journey and work in helping leaders embrace change and marry data, technology, and human-centric practices to achieve success. You will love her insights on how to build resilience in today's rapidly changing landscape, and how integrating innovative technology, data-driven insights, and the human touch is the winning recipe for success in our times.
We kick off our partnership where SparkEffect will be offering you monthly insights, actionable takeaways, and inspiring stories of leadership transformation and the role empathy plays in success.
Tune in every 3rd Thursday, right here on The Empathy Edge!
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
AI is not going away - the more we lean in and understand, the more we can leverage it for ourselves, our clients, and our organizations.Leveraging AI in your creative endeavors is great to bounce ideas off of, especially for those who work solo.All change involves bringing people along with you. The human need for information, reassurance, connection, and upskilling never disappears. Only the challenge in front of us changes."We believe that AI and data-driven insights are about augmenting and elevating that people-centered approach. And that's why we find the data, along with the very skill-based empathetic approach, is where the superpower is unleashed for leaders and organizations." — Kim Bohr
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 Kim Bohr, President & COO, SparkEffect
Kim is a published author, speaker, and entrepreneur at heart. As the President and COO of SparkEffect, she brings over 25 years of experience as a cross-functional leader, executive and board advisor, and leadership and organization development professional.
Kim has spent her career avidly studying and participating in companies with complex people and organizational dynamics. Making an impact on businesses is important to Kim. She stays inspired by the gratification that comes from unraveling challenging problems for individuals and companies. Her strong, strategic instincts, extensive experience, and the ability to create followership have shaped Kim into the leader she is today.
Connect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffect
SparkEffect: sparkeffect.com
Courage to Advance recording and resources:
sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcast
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffect
LinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohr
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Halloween is just around the corner, and the ghouls, goblins, and…gladiators will be out in full force, along with spooky music, haunted houses, chills, and thrills. While humans have a weird desire to scare ourselves for our amusement, fear and horror in the workplace is far less desirable. And nothing can strike more fear into our hearts than scary bosses.
But are those leaders scary...or scared?
Today, I discuss how fear is detrimental for your team and how elevated perceived stress levels cause poor cognition. I also talk about why embracing empathy and building strong connections with your team while still maintaining high accountability and performance expectations will allow your team to rise to the challenge. Listen in for some scary statistics, but also the light around the dark corner that waits for those of us who are willing to take the next steps.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Studies show that perceived stress can cause lower cognitive scores and a faster rate of cognitive decline.Be vulnerable in your journey to be a more empathetic leader - while still expecting high performance and holding people accountable - people will rise to the challenge.Examine your own emotional triggers and backstory. Be willing to interrogate yourself with a curious mind. Scaring your people won’t help, so stop trying to do so and understand why you were trying to in the first place."Most scary or ineffective leaders have no self-awareness about how poorly they come across and how much psychological torture they influence. And that's because their negative behavior is almost always a result of their own fears." — Maria Ross
Episode References:
CNN: Stress May Lead to Lower Cognitive Function, Study FindsMore on Arno MichaelisBuy the book and download a free chapter sneak peek: http://www.TheEmpathyDilemma.comFrom 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 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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Enjoy this unique discussion with three brave women, two live under the shadow of fear for themself and their child, and one is a cisgender ally: Kate Brookes, Jayna Sheats, & Jeannie Gainsburg. We talk about their own stories that led them to this work, how the increase in anti-trans legislation impacts them, what it's like to parent a trans teen, and their most poignant moments along the way. We also share simple yet impactful tips on how to be an ally.
To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Accepting and loving your child no matter how they present is support and protection for your child.Fiction is an amazing tool for empathy. It allows you to explore with your imagination experiences outside of your own.As allies, we need to step up, use the right language, and let people know that they are safe.Everyone is watching the world for signals to understand they are safe."Dignity is at stake. LGBTQ rights are at stake. Right now, while my daughter has access to these things, a vote could take some of these necessities. They're not privileges, they're necessities" — Kate Brookes
References:
Hanna's Ascent by Jayna SheatsTransister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World by Kate BrookesThe Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGPTQ+ Advocate by Jeannie Gainsburg2016 Study on Mental Health of Transgender Children Who are Supported in their IdentitiesGFP: Gender and Family ProjectSissy: A Coming of Gender Story by Jacob TobiaCori Lovejoy: A Trans Woman’s Journey Transforming Self and Organizational CultureJeannie Gainsburg: How to Be a Savvy LGBTQ+ AllyFrom 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.
Kate Brookes: Producer, Filmmaker, Writer. Kate Brookes is an award-winning TV reporter turned producer, filmmaker, and writer. An activist since her teens, Kate has devoted countless hours to the causes she supports, including mental health, housing justice, and anti-gun legislation. But it wasn’t until realizing she’d completely botched the birth announcement for her twins that she became active in LGBTQ causes. The author of Transister: Raising Twins in a Gender-Bending World, Kate lives with her husband and rock star children, one of whom happens to be trans, in New York City.
Jeannie Gainsburg, Founder, Savvy Ally Action: Jeannie is an educational trainer and consultant in LGBTQ+ inclusion and effective allyship, and author of, The Savvy Ally: A Guide for Becoming a Skilled LGBTQ+ Advocate. She is the founder of Savvy Ally Action, which offers accessible and encouraging workshops and videos on how to be an ally to the LGBTQ+ communities.
Jayna Sheats, Author: Jayna grew up on an isolated Colorado ranch in the 1950s, where the word “transgender” had never once been heard. Returning to CO after studying language and psychology in Germany, she majored in physical science and settled in Silicon Valley with a PhD in chemistry. Jayna is the author of, Hanna's Ascent. She spends her time writing novels about triumph over trauma and social justice, and a non-fiction book on transgender women in athletics.
Connect with Our Guests:
Kate Brookes: transistermom.com
Jeannie Gainsburg: savvyallyaction.com
Jayna Sheats: jaynasheats.com
X: @transistermom
LinkedIn: Jeannie Gainsburg
Facebook: Jayna Sheats, Author
Connect with Maria:
Learn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.com
Hire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-Ross
Take my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with Empathy
LinkedIn: Maria Ross
Instagram: @redslicemaria
Facebook: Red Slice
Threads: @redslicemaria
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Happiness seems as elusive and subjective at work as empathy. But there is a link between the two, and we're going to get into that today! My guest is Dr. Tracy Brower, a PhD sociologist studying work-life fulfillment and happiness.
Today we discuss what happiness at work means, how happiness is linked to empathy, and the research around what happy workplaces experience in terms of engagement, retention, and performance. Tracy shatters the myths of happiness as a constant state. While we can't "make people happy" we can create the conditions for happiness. She shares the five measurable conditions for happiness and we discuss the Paradox of Happiness, the benefits of post-traumatic growth, the current loneliness epidemic and the role workplace cultures can play, and the two important components of what it means to thrive. Tracy offers ways you can create connections as a leader - and you'll love the conversation near the end about how leaders don't have to take on all the responsibility for this in their culture by themselves!
To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Tracy’s Big Five conditions for happiness are: Having a sense of purpose, Connection with other people, Opportunity for learning, growth and challenge, Performing really well, and Gratitude.Sometimes you will have to do work you don’t want to do. Your work won’t always be fulfilling. But that doesn’t mean your career or workplace cannot be nurturing, engaging, and fulfilling despite that work.Thriving always includes an element of striving. There are positive challenges, and positive growth that come out of difficult situations."It's actually counterproductive to measure happiness by itself, and the more we think about happiness as its own end, the less likely we are to accomplish it, statistically." — Dr. Tracy Brower
Episode References:
The Empathy Edge episodesLogan Mallory: How a Culture of Gratitude Boosts Engagement and Mental HealthJamie Greenwood: Why Empathy for Others Starts with Compassion for YourselfShasta Nelson: Why Successful Leaders Encourage Work FriendshipsFrom 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 Dr. Tracy Brower, VP Workplace Insights, Steelcase
Dr. Tracy Brower is a PhD sociologist studying work-life fulfillment and happiness. She is the author of The Secrets to Happiness at Work and Bring Work to Life. She is the vice president of workplace insights with Steelcase and a senior contributor to Forbes and Fast Company. Her work has been translated into 22 languages, and you can find her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, or at tracybrower.com
Connect with Tracy Brower:
Steelcase: www.Steelcase.com
Website: https://tracybrower.com/
X: https://twitter.com/TracyBrower108
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracybrowerphd/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tlb108/
Book: The Secrets To Happiness at Work
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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Welcome to another 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.
In today's episode, Part 2, A Gameplan for Putting Empathy into Action, Rae Shanahan and I focus on why empathy is hard to achieve when everyone thinks it's a good idea. We give examples of empathetic leadership - and behaviors that are the opposite of empathy. We dive into a study theme of accountability and the false belief that empathy and accountability are opposites. Rae shares what empathetic culture does for your organization, and gives examples of what employees deem to be empathetic company benefits. Finally, we revisit the three pillars Businesssolver discovered in their research and how to take action on each one.
To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com
Key Takeaways:
Everything starts with awareness. We have a chance to impact the culture by focusing on the leaders.Understanding doesn’t mean endorsement. Empathy doesn't mean you agree or condone behavior or the decision. It means you are there for someone and factor in their point of view.It takes time to build up trust, especially in an environment where it hasn't been there before."We are not a one-size-fits-all organization. Employees have different needs and different definitions of benefits depending on where they are in their life cycle." — Rae Shanahan
Episode References:
Empathy Authenticity ChecklistThe Empathy DilemmaBrené Brown Short on EmpathyQBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. MillerJelly Roll - I Am Not OkayFrom 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 12 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 & Rae Shanahan:
Website: businessolver.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raeshanahan
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/businessolver
X: @Businessolver
Instagram: @Businessolver
Facebook: facebook.com/bsolver
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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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“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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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 TalkingFrom 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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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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
Achieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edge
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