The Empathy Edge

How much better does taking an empathetic approach impact not just your leadership, but your ability to bring the right products and services to market nd truly connect with your ideal customers? Turns out, it can help you avoid costly advertising campaign failures!Today I talk with Lane Byrum, EQ coach and Director of Corporate Accounts for Five Capitals. Lane shares one of the most powerful stories I've ever heard about blending business with human connection, how empathy got real for him in that moment, and how it changed the team and consumer. He also gives a great example of how one company wasted millions of dollars on a brand-damaging ad campaign that missed the mark when it failed to dive deeper into empathy for your target audience - and how they put ego aside, took responsibility, and re-did the research to launch a breakthrough campaign instead! We discuss how empathy helps you break away from putting people into labels and boxes to form better connections. He shares three ways to get curious without sounding like you are interrogating someone. And Lane shares how to use empathy as a tool in a healthy, compassionate way with four steps to engage in a deeper connection at work - or at home!To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Listen for…The research project that made empathy real for Lane.Why empathy is first and foremost about acknowledging, not fixing or solving. Key steps to engage in a deeper connection with others. How to use empathy and storytelling as a tool.  "You have to be courageous in these times, because there are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't (be) that sound right, - until you use courage and empathy, you won't understand how wrong those reasons are." —  Lane Byrum Episode References: Always Like a Girl Campaign and Super Bowl ad from Leo BurnettAbout Lane Byrum: EQ Coach and Director of Corporate Accounts, Five CapitalsLane brings 18 years of experience in qualitative research with Fortune 500 companies, and now devotes his work to developing emotionally intelligent leaders and teams. As an Enneagram Type 2, Lane’s approach blends deep self-awareness and empathy to create lasting growth—one conversation at a time. Whether through individual coaching or team training, he helps leaders tune into their inner wisdom and the people they lead to build truly human-centered organizations.Connect with Lane:  Five Capitals: fivecapitals.net LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lanebyrum  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

What if the real solution to conflict is not about persuading the other side, but in transforming yourself first? That’s the provocative question we explore in today’s episode with my guest, Ursula Taylor.We discuss why self-awareness and authenticity must precede empathy, versus what some other thought leaders you may be following are saying. We examine where traditional conflict resolution processes fall short, and why it truly only takes one person to change the energy of a dispute, answering the most common question I get about how to deal with someone who is not showing YOU any empathy! And finally, we consider why peacebuilding and sustainable resolution start from the inside out, requiring us to release our energy and the need for control to cultivate neutrality within ourselves before clarity and solutions can emerge.If you’ve ever found yourself entrenched in conflict, whether at work, at home, or with others in these very divisive times, this conversation will invite you to reimagine what resolution really looks like.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Listen in for:Keys to approaching negotiation and conflict with self-awareness. The right energy to bring for healthy conflict, and how you can release your own emotional charge when someone is not showing you empathy back.The impact you have on others when you set the tone in your interaction with them. Why the win/loss dichotomy is not important in conflict and negotiation "When you're in an interaction with someone who's not capable of empathy, it manifests as self-absorption or even narcissism. You're with someone who's not there to hear you. They're there to talk. You want to make sure you are sourcing your energy from you and not from that person." —  Ursula Taylor Episode References: Never Split the Difference by Chris VossThe Empathy Edge podcasts with guest Robin Dreeke:Spycraft and the Leadership Code of TrustSpy Lessons for Leaders: Forging Unbreakable Alliances Through EmpathyFrom 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 Ursula Taylor, Founding and Managing Member, Conflict Reimagined: Ursula specializes in guiding individuals and teams through conflict resolution using holistic and strategic methods that go beyond traditional dispute resolution. With seventeen years of experience as a nationally recognized managed care attorney in commercial litigation, Ursula now focuses on helping clients avoid or limit costly legal processes. When litigation or arbitration is unavoidable, she supports clients in finding efficient resolutions.Ursula combines intuition, deep discernment, practical experience, and analytical skills to help clients understand the broader scope of each issue or dispute, including underlying drivers, emotions, and limiting beliefs. She partners with individuals and leaders who prioritize business results, cooperation, and productivity, and who are open to innovative approaches for addressing and preventing expensive and uncertain conflicts.Connect with Ursula:  Conflict Reimagined: https://www.conflictreimagined.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ursula-taylor-b0ba4729/  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

How can you challenge yourself as a leader to embrace empathy and think bigger, not just about success, but about significance?Joining me today is Mark Mears, a visionary business leader, best-selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building stakeholder value, driving innovation, and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory. He is currently the founder and Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC, where he inspires leaders and organizations to grow with purpose.Mark shares insights from his powerful new book, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder. We’ll dive into how empathy fuels meaningful growth, not only in business outcomes but people, teams, and culture. Mark believes that when leaders operate with purpose and put people first, they don’t just build companies—they build legacies. He shares why “culture” is not the right word, how to stop managing to the org chart, the four brands you need to consider within your organization, how to build your legacy starting today,  and how to think about inner diversity as much as organizational diversity. He also shares powerful stories from his past Fortune 500 mentors that you will love.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:True success comes from building communities where people belong, not just cultures where they merely exist.Leadership is a role to be earned daily through empathy and self-awareness, not just a title like “boss.”Empathy fuels performance, proving that compassion and results go hand-in-hand.Recognition and fulfillment drive engagement, motivation, and lasting impact in organizations.Purpose must be lived through four interconnected brands: personal, internal, external, and employer.“I never let anyone call me a boss. I said, if you want to refer to me as your leader, that’s a title I have to earn every day by how I show up.” —  Mark MearsFrom 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 Mark Mears, Founder & Chief Growth Officer, LEAF Growth Ventures: Mark A. Mears is a #1 best-selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building stakeholder value—driving innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory.Today, Mark serves as Founder and Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world.Connect with Mark Mears:Website: LEAF Growth Ventures LLC - https://www.MarkAMears.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markamears/ Book: The Purposeful Growth Revolution: https://www.amazon.com/Purposeful-Growth-Revolution-Leader-Builder/dp/1636182135Free Purposeful Growth Self-Assessment: https://www.MarkAMears.comConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

Featuring guest Mike Humphries, SparkEffect CEO and former Fortune 500 Executive.Welcome to Courage to Advance, hosted by Kim Bohr and brought to you by SparkEffect, in partnership with The Empathy Edge.Our show is launching off on its own! Come check us out for twice-monthly episodes at www.CourageToAdvancePodcast.com or subscribe to Courage to Advance on your favorite player.Kim Bohr opens with a striking boardroom paradox: "The person who can most impact your organization's success or failure, your CEO, is also the person most likely to receive the least comprehensive, least rigorous performance evaluation." In this conversation with Mike Humphries, they explore why traditional board-only CEO evaluations fall dramatically short.Mike reveals why most boards focus on KPIs that capture only 15-20% of a comprehensive CEO evaluation, missing critical competencies like adaptability and stakeholder leadership. The conversation unveils how co-creating evaluations with CEOs prevents feedback rejection, why different stakeholders experience CEOs differently, and how independent assessment creates psychological safety for honest feedback in the loneliest executive role. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:Most CEO evaluations focus only on KPIs—missing 80% of a comprehensive assessmentCEOs who help design evaluation processes can't honestly reject feedbackBoard members and executive teams experience CEOs in different environmentsIndependent evaluation eliminates bias and creates safety for honest feedbackEarly warning signs surface first with direct reports, not board membersComprehensive evaluation covers adaptability, stakeholder leadership, and culture stewardshipLongitudinal analysis tracks CEO growth and identifies systemic challenges "I don't think any board goes into this process thinking that they're taking a superficial approach... but there is a different way, and especially for this unique role." —  Mike HumphriesAbout Mike Humphries: Mike Humphries serves as Chairman and CEO of SparkEffect. He joined the organization in 2001, bringing experience as a successful entrepreneur and business executive with deep knowledge in finance, technology, and administration. Over two decades, he has served on numerous corporate and nonprofit boards, giving him a unique perspective on effective governance and leadership evaluation.About SparkEffect: SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through tailored assessments and expert coaching, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.Go to sparkeffect.com/ceo-evaluation now and download your complimentary CEO Evaluation Framework Assessment today.Connect with Mike Humphries:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikehumphries/ Website: sparkeffect.com/about/mike-humphriesConnect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffectSparkEffect: sparkeffect.comCourage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffectLinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohrConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaGet your copy of The Empathy Dilemma here- www.theempathydilemma.com

The power of empathy for organizational success is not just proven in all the data. Neuroscience backs up our human need to connect and form relationships. But why does empathic communication lead to better business results, improved wellness, decreased burnout, and better workforce retention? We explore that today with Dr. Helen Riess. Persuaded by the belief that empathy can transform healthcare, Dr. Riess founded Empathetics to meet medicine’s most pressing challenges. We talk about whether empathy can be taught or if it's an inborn trait, the evidence for how empathy improves measurable outcomes, and what shifts we need to make to more fully bring empathy into work. Dr. Riess shares how the brain works on empathy and how it looks different for different people of all abilities. Finally, we discuss the importance of getting people into the right seat to lead with empathy and why self-regulation skills are critical to leadership success.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Listen and discover:Why empathy is a key survival trait of the human species.Effective shifts to bring more personal compassion, kindness, and empathy to the workplace.The best ways to start your day for effective, empathetic leadership.Advice for dealing with people at different stages and levels of empathy.Why practicing empathy at work spills over into other aspects of your life. "Neuroscience shows that when the brain is at rest, we're not doing nothing. The default mode is all about working out relationships. It just shows how critical human relationship and connectedness really is." —  Dr. Helen RiessFrom 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. Helen Riess, Founder and Chief Medical Officer, EmpatheticsDr. Helen Riess, a psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, is renowned for her groundbreaking research into the neurobiology of empathy.  Dr. Riess has shown that empathy can be taught and learned. Her work has reshaped how healthcare professionals connect with patients and colleagues, fostering trust and greater patient and clinician satisfaction. Her award-winning research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals.Persuaded by the belief that empathy can transform healthcare, Dr. Riess founded Empathetics to meet medicine’s most pressing challenges. As Chief Medical Officer, she translates her research into programs that help healthcare teams navigate the communication demands of modern practice. Her empathy training programs improve wellness, reduce burnout and employee turnover, and improve workforce cultures.Her best-selling book, The Empathy Effect, has resonated globally. Her TEDx talk, “The Power of Empathy,” has nearly one million views. A Founding Member of Newsweek’s Expert Forum, Dr. Riess continues to champion the transformative power of empathy to improve healthcare for everyone.Connect with Helen: Empathetics, Inc: empathetics.comInstagram: instagram.com/helen.riessLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/helen-riessTEDx: The Power of EmpathyBook: The Empathy Effect: empathetics.com/empathy-effect-bookConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

Turns out your organization's inability to adapt and align in this era of great change may have little to do with structure, sales, or cutting costs and more to do with how you are investing in building your team's people skills: you know, old-fashioned communication, empathy, collaboration, and conflict resolution. Sorry to break it to you, but research is showing those skills are going to be MORE, not LESS important in the age of AI. Today’s guest, Dan Tocchini, has been helping leaders bring more magic to their teams for over 35 years. We talk about what leadership really means, the biggest enemy of a high-performing culture, and how to spot when your team is misaligned. Dan also shares why it can feel lonely at the top, how empathy helps leaders have difficult conversations that make a real difference, and the best time to address issues before they derail performance. If you want practical, hard-earned wisdom on how to lead with both courage and compassion—while still driving results—this is the conversation for you.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:The biggest enemy is fear, and what you don’t face will defeat you. Courage is being in touch with prices and rewards.You have to live your values. If you’re not living them, you won’t understand the nuances and where things could fall apart.Leadership doesn’t have to be lonely; it only is because you’re not willing to solve that problem. Often, the unwillingness to hear feedback is the biggest breakdown.Business, now more than ever, influences culture. With AI becoming increasingly relevant, it is up to leaders to become more relational and more empathetic. “Most executives work around the hard conversations. They end up reacting to them. The hard conversations become your culture, and the conversation you're not willing to have becomes your culture. What you don't face now will eventually defeat you.” - Dan TocchiniEpisode References:The Empathy Edge Podcast: Kara Goldin: On Undaunted LeadershipAbout Dan Tocchini, Change Agent, Catalyst, Consultant, CoachDan Tocchini has been helping leaders bring some more magic onto their teams for over 35 years. He has worked with executive teams from Interstate Batteries and ESPN, to Smarty Pants Vitamins and Impulse Space, as well as on-profits like Homeboy Industries and Defy Ventures. Dan gives a no-fluff approach by helping transform leadership teams without any pixie dust - just courageous leadership, creative conflict resolution, and relevant restructuring. No conversation is too difficult, no situation too conflicted, because a leader with a vision cannot be held hostage by circumstance or history.Connect with Dan:Take New Ground: takenewground.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dantocchiniInstagram: instagram.com/dan_tocchiniThe Change Imperative (FREE e-book) change.takenewground.comRevenant: takenewground.com/revenant Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

Empathy is the key to effective marketing. You've heard that here before. But what is really going on in the brains of savvy buyers, and how can we tap into that - not to manipulate, but to connect and engage with what they need and who they want to be?Today, Rai Cornell shares her unique journey, including being a psychologist in the prison system. We discuss how to appeal to today's savvy buyers and why everyone is a skeptical buyer. We talk about the mistakes companies make when they "pitch” and why 70% of the sales process is actually done before the salesperson does that pitch. And some examples of effective tactics and campaigns we've both seen. And a real treat today: you know the old marketing adage of helping prospects know, like, and trust you? Rai breaks down HOW to achieve each of those steps by taking about the brain's neurotransmitters and the chemicals activated at each stage, so you can best engage your audience at each step.  And we discuss the ethics of empathetic marketing and how to avoid manipulation or coercion at all costs, as well as the importance of internal feedback loops to consistently practice empathy with your customers.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.com.Key Takeaways:Prioritize understanding the gatekeeper, not just the final buyer, especially in B2B sales situations.Everyone you are selling to is a human. They will have both logic drivers and emotional drivers.If you want to be efficient with your marketing dollars - spending less, doing more, and getting more ROI - empathy is the way to do it because you have to slow down and understand who the other person is.Utilize the power of neurotransmitters - dopamine and oxytocin - to maximize know, like, and trust. "Be altruistic. Understand the situation. This is where empathy comes in. You have to understand the situation that they're in before they want to buy your solution." —  Rai CornellEpisode References:Nike, If You Let Me Play Ad CampaignSubaru crashed car ad, They LivedFrom 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 Rai Cornell, CEO, Cornell Content Marketing:Rai Cornell is the CEO and Strategic Marketing Consultant of Cornell Content Marketing. Rai helps B2B businesses become thought leaders by creating long-term demand-generation strategies and eliminating costly and unnecessary short-term, manipulative tactics like ads. Rai's marketing approach is psychology-driven to ensure businesses attract pre-qualified, emotionally engaged buyers.Connect with Rai:Email: rairose@cornellcontentmarketing.comCornell Content Marketing: cornellcontentmarketing.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/raicornellConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

The skills and sensibilities we needed in the industrial age are no longer working. But according to my guest today, Saqib Rasool, we are approaching skills development as if we were machines - just sprinkle some knowledge or insert some new information and BAM we will transform our leadership style. Instead, he offers a different way to navigate these new skills and improve performance.Today, we discuss how the leadership paradigm has changed and why our approaches to skill development often fail, because they rely on people fitting into rational machine models - which they do not! We discuss examples of how one crucial mindset shift works better,  and why breakdowns are not a bad thing, but an opportunity for leaders to shift their mindset, engage in tough conversations, and listen to what is important to others  - thus building the new leadership skills you need to succeed. We discuss how even the field of change management has changed and how you can shift from “power over” leadership models to “power with” models that lead to better results.To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode at TheEmpathyEdge.comKey Takeaways:Humans don’t give feedback; machines give feedback. Humans give opinions, both good and bad.The most dangerous and unproductive leader is the one who believes they have nothing else to learn.Be willing to set aside what you believe as true. Breakdowns can only be solved by being willing to hear the truth, no matter what it is. "Even in industrial environments, the value is created in our ability to coordinate action with each other in conversations, to deal with breakdowns with each other, and to really see possibilities for innovation might exist in the breakdowns." —  Saqib RasoolEpisode References: The Bed of Procrustes: Philosophical and Practical Aphorisms by Nassim Nicholas TalebFrom 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.Saqib Rasool, CEO, ConceivianSaqib is a serial entrepreneur, coach, and author. Starting his career at Microsoft, he later built several startups and founded a start-up accelerator. Saqib’s passion for cultivating leaders and entrepreneurs led him to study human potential, teamwork, innovation, entrepreneurship, and communications. Saqib has coached countless changemakers to unfold their potential, see the breakdowns ripe with opportunities, and set bold missions. He lives in the Seattle area and travels globally for work.Connect with Saqib:Conceivian: conceivian.com X: x.com/SaqibRasool LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/saqibrasool Facebook: facebook.com/saqibrasool Instagram: instagram.com/saqibrasoolofficialConceivian's Emerging Leaders Program. A Revolutionary Approach To Building Leadership,  Management, and Communication Capacities for Upward Mobility In Career & Performance in Enterprises: conceivian.com/elp Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

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.After overwhelming listener response to our AI and coaching conversation, Kim Bohr and Rod Bacon reconvene to address burning questions about executive coaching misconceptions. This deep dive challenges the outdated view of coaching as "leadership rehab" and reveals its true power as a strategic growth amplifier.Rod dismantles the "scarlet letter" stigma, sharing how vulnerability creates strength and why interview-based stakeholder feedback provides "X-ray vision" into leadership impact. The conversation explores why executive presence is an inside job, how the forgetting curve undermines training investments, and why coaching transforms information into embodied leadership behaviors.Whether you're justifying development budgets or seeking authentic growth, discover why combining training with coaching multiplies ROI and how modeling vulnerability builds cultures of continuous learning. To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:Executive coaching is a growth amplifier, not leadership rehab – top performers use it proactivelyInterview-based 360 feedback reveals not just what happened, but organizational ripple effectsExecutive presence isn't about gestures – it's about embodying confidence and claiming your seatUp to 90% of training content is forgotten within a week without coaching reinforcementVulnerability-based leadership creates psychological safety and models continuous growthTraining fills knowledge gaps; coaching ensures application and integrationThe most powerful transformations focus on one or two needle-moving changes"We're going to see it as a growth amplifier… when people get coaching, they're able to look at their strengths, what's potentially getting in the way of accelerating those, and really grow." —  Rod BaconAbout Rod Bacon: Rod Bacon serves as Chief Coaching Officer at SparkEffect, developing world-class executive coaches and working with C-suite leaders across healthcare, pharmaceutical, and technology industries. His philosophy that vulnerability enables true strength has guided transformative leadership development worldwide.About SparkEffect: SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest asset: their people. Through tailored assessments and expert coaching, 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 Rod Bacon:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rwbacon/Website: sparkeffect.com/about/rod-baconConnect with Kim Bohr and SparkEffectSparkEffect: sparkeffect.comCourage to Advance recording and resources: sparkeffect.com/courage-to-advance-podcastLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/sparkeffectLinkedIn for Kim Bohr: linkedin.com/in/kimbohrConnect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria

While multiple studies show that we are experiencing mental health crises, burnout, and stress at alarming levels, I don't have to tell you that you're feeling it. It impacts your ability and your team's ability to perform at the highest level. To innovate, problem solve, and focus. Some workplace stress is a given, but what about the stress we can control? The stress caused by a culture and a leader who refuses to recognize our humanity? The leader who does not value empathy, connection, well-being, or psychological safety as a way to empower their people to achieve success.Today, I talk with Marisol Solarte-Erlacher about the price you pay for toxic and psychologically unsafe cultures and how that impacts business performance. We discuss why chronic stress is an issue, how it impacts leadership and performance, and what it looks like to put employee well-being at the center of your business strategy. Marisol shares how to make the culture shift in your own team to prioritize well-being in meaningful ways, not just surface-level perks. She offers three questions you can ask your team to discern if they feel psychologically safe, and she shares how you can make the business case for well-being so your people can thrive and your company can achieve its goals.To access the episode transcript, please scroll down below.Key Takeaways:The pandemic gave everyone the ability to pause and actually question if the way we have always done things is the only or best way to do things.Being in a constant state of stress takes a long-term toll on our bodies and health.Do assessments with yourself and your team to understand what the biggest stressors are at any given point.To assess psychological safety, you can ask three questions: What are the things in the workplace that cause you the most stress? How do you handle those? How do you ask for help? "This is about the long-term investment of your culture for the overall well-being and sustainability of your organization." —  Marisol Solarte-ErlacherEpisode References:The Empathy Edge podcast:Rebecca Friese: How to Build a “Good” CultureAnna Liotta: Understanding Generational CodesFrom 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 Marisol Solarte-Erlacher, Trauma Expert and Resilience ConsultantNamed one of Colorado's Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Marisol Solarte-Erlacher is a trauma expert, resilience consultant, and licensed psychotherapist with over 20 years of experience helping organizations build cultures where both people and performance thrive, while hosting the award-nominated podcast 'Resilience and Resistance,' featuring successful Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color who have overcome trauma to become resilient leaders.Connect with Marisol:Email: marisol@marisolerlacher.com Website: marisolerlacher.com Instagram: instagram.com/marisol_resilience_expert  Connect with Maria:Get Maria's books on empathy: Red-Slice.com/booksLearn more about Maria's work: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake the LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria