Welcome to August Hot Takes! To celebrate the podcast's 2nd anniversary, we're shaking things up with some solo episodes from yours truly. I'm answering common questions attendees ask during my keynotes and trainings.Will one empathy workshop fix our culture?Empathy is like a marathon or any other skill you master over time. You need to train for it. Building up an empathy practice with a sustained curriculum and processes is the way to change behaviors. But you have to make systemic changes to reward and model empathy and show that "this is how we do things around here."Thanks for being here and enjoying the podcast. Would love to know what you think of this Hot Takes format. Key Takeaways:Empathy as a skill and as a culture is built over time with practice and engagement. Building an empathetic culture starts with your hiring process. Creating transformational change takes time and effort. It is not a one and done workshop.  "While one workshop is a great start, if empathy is lacking in your organization, it’s a marathon, not a sprint." —  Maria RossResources Mentioned:I incorrectly attributed the “Empathy is the input, diversity and inclusion is the output” idea to podcast guest Mike O'Bryan. Mike O'Bryan: Narrative Intelligence. It was actually Rich Hua of Amazon talking about how he is starting an EQ revolution at Amazon. Apologies!Ann Latham: The Power of ClarityMaria's empathy keynotes and workshops, Please email me to discuss your specific needs or if you’d like guidance to put together an effective curriculum!  Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice Book your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

Welcome to August Hot Takes! To celebrate the podcast's 2nd anniversary, we're shaking things up with some solo episodes from yours truly. I'm answering common questions attendees ask during my keynotes and trainings.This week: Why is active listening so hard? Thanks for being here and enjoying the podcast. Would love to know what you think of this Hot Takes format. Key Takeaways:Active listening is not a natural skill to master. It is more complicated than basic listening. As much as you are able, taking notes during a conversation will allow you to better listen to what is being said, not allowing your mind to wander afar. Repeat back and validate what the other person is saying. This doesn’t mean you agree with what they are saying.  "If you find it difficult to actively listen, just know you're not alone. And know, it is an exercise, it is a muscle you can isolate and strengthen just like empathy." —  Maria Ross Resources Mentioned:Empathy Circles: https://www.empathycircles.com/Institute of Organization Development: Active Listening: Why is it so difficult?Empathic Listening: 9 Strategies for Empathic Communication Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

Welcome to August Hot Takes! To celebrate the podcast's 2nd anniversary, we're shaking things up with some solo episodes from yours truly. I'm answering common questions attendees ask during my keynotes and trainings.First up: What is empathy? And what is it NOT?Let's get on the same page about what empathy in the workplace means, and bust some myths and misconceptions leaders have about it that prevent them from embracing it.Thanks for being here and enjoying the podcast. Would love to know what you think of this Hot Takes format. Key Takeaways:When the heart and the head come together and take action, that is where empathy flourishes.. You can understand someone’s point of view and where they are coming from without being a doormat and letting them walk all over you. The way you approach a difference of opinion is what makes it an empathetic exchange or not. "Just because you agree with someone doesn't mean you're empathetic. And just because you're empathetic, doesn't mean you agree with someone. It just means you're going to find a way forward and you're going to keep seeking that common ground." —  Maria Ross Resources Mentioned:Empathy Circles: https://www.empathycircles.com/ Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

Would you ever throw a dinner party and not even think about guest allergies, or how to make your guests feel most comfortable? Of course not! You would prepare. If only we approached language the way we approach hosting a party! Often on autopilot, we don't stop and think about the words we use and if they are inclusive or if they're damaging them in some unseen way. Words matter and we unintentionally could be hurting others or making them feel unseen by the language we use. This not only harms our relationships, it can lead to low-performing teams, high turnover, or lack of collaboration and innovation.Today, I have a great conversation with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, a national expert on language and bias. Suzanne shares the fascinating story of how she got into linguistic anthropology and how it led to her current work. She attempts to define inclusive language, and why it's more than just being politically correct: it's vital to collaborative success and belonging. We talk about the perspective shifts required and why The Golden Rule doesn't go far enough. And we discuss good outcomes of inclusive language and bad outcomes when you choose to ignore it. Suzanne also shares some quick tips to get you started and unpacks the principles of inclusive language.  Key Takeaways:Language changes based on social context, particularly among minority groups.Inclusive language is more than just a list of words you can or cannot say. The impact of the words changes as society changes and it is not a stagnant list.Perspective taking is a cognitive skill - the first part is a role shift, the second is taking into account the different perspective that's brought to the situation, because of the other person's different lived experience.The word "professionalism" is often used in a very non-inclusive way to gatekeep people who are just showing up, are very competent, and are delivering high quality things on time. "We know that we have to practice foreign languages to become fluent. So too with inclusive language:  you can't expect to just get it right away. You have to practice and make mistakes." —  Dr. Suzanne Wertheim About Dr. Suzanne Wertheim, Language and Bias Expert:Dr. Suzanne Wertheim is a national expert on language and bias. After getting her Ph.D. in Linguistics from Berkeley, she held faculty positions at Northwestern, University of Maryland, and UCLA. In 2011, she left the university system in order to apply her expertise to real-world problems. As head of Worthwhile Research & Consulting, Dr. Wertheim specializes in analyzing and mitigating bias at work. Using the tools of linguistic anthropology, she guides clients to more inclusive language, content, and workplaces. Dr. Wertheim's book, Let's Talk Inclusive Language, will be published by Berrett-Koehler in 2023. Connect with Dr. Suzanne Wertheim:Website:https://www.worthwhileconsulting.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/WorthwhileRandCLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/suzanne-wertheim-ph-d-1508464/LinkedIn Learning Course: Strategies to Foster Inclusive Language at WorkResources Mentioned:If you're part of a larger organization and interested in the Executive Institute on Inclusion program Suzanne and I mentioned to create a customized DEI program based on data and your unique needs, check it out as just one offering through Susan Freeman's amazing Conscious Inclusion Company:  https://consciousinclusioncompany.com/   Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

The pandemic has changed all the rules of work - they were actually evolving for a while, but COVID accelerated those changes, which left many leaders scrambling. How do we make hybrid work, digital work, remote work WORK for your organization? So many leaders are being thrown into uncharted waters. You may be confused, fearful, angry, stubborn, or unsure about how to make hybrid work, or if your team can perform in such an environment.Today, my guest, Neil Miller, and I chat about what hybrid work actually is and where it's going. We discuss the real meaning of culture and how you replicate it when your team is distributed or remote - Neil shares some powerful strategies on how you can co-create the rules with your team so your work experiences are equitable and inclusive. We discuss the role of empathy in the hybrid workplace - not just for employees but for leaders who are unsure how to navigate this new reality. We joked about how so many companies misunderstand what "culture" really means - and why the old way of thinking about it won't serve them in this new environment. And Neil invites you to think through when in-person is worth it so you maximize those opportunities and get other work done remotely. Key Takeaways:While many studies are showing that people are more productive when working from home, it is not the right fit for every person. Culture is how we treat each other and how we get work done. It is more than just people being in the same place at the same time. In order to solve the complex problems of our day, collaboration is essential. Meetings are great. They do a lot, but they don't have to do everything for you. You don't have to rely on them for every type of collaboration you do.  "Culture is how we work, how we do meetings, how we do everything. In a digital world, you're forced to deal with that in a much more explicit way than when you're in the office." —  Neil Miller About Neil Miller: Director, The Digital WorkplaceNeil Miller is the Director of The Digital Workplace. He has talked with over 200 of the best thinkers and leaders in the world about how to rebuild work for the digital age by redefining productivity, collaboration, leadership, technology, and culture. He’s a prolific thought stealer and curator of the most amazing list of check in questions in the world.Connect with Neil MillerWebsite: www.thedigitalworkplace.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/NeilMiller3000LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilamiller/Guide and video course for how to run effective digital meetings: https://thedigitalworkplace.com/digital-meetings/Resources Mentioned: The Empathy Edge interview with Rebecca Friese: How to Build a "Good" CultureThe Empathy Edge interview with Paul Marobella: Leading Through Crisis  Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

The Holy Grail of brand success is to really understand and engage with your ideal customer. But how do some brands seem to do this so effortlessly, while others throw marketing campaign after marketing campaign out there and get nowhere? Today, my guest is Sandeep Dayal. Sandeep advises senior executives at Fortune 500 companies in industries spanning pharmaceuticals, financial services, and consumer products.  He shares how he got into cognitive science-based branding and shares examples of it in action. We talk about how brands can enhance experiences based on cognitive science, why marketers need to spend more time understanding behavioral motivation and how our brains work so they can influence choice - and most importantly, how to ethically influence subconscious choice. You'll learn a great three question test that every marketer should ask to police themselves! We talk about the difference between brands with empathy and brands with values, and how branding has changed and what modem marketers need to know to be more successful.Key Takeaways:If you don’t understand what your client or customer is going through, you will not be able to help them effectively. Brands with values need to have authentic values. It can't just be a list of things that are on a pretty poster on a wall, but rather they are the values that the company is living and supporting. Good marketing is about elevating the truth of your story so the people who need you or your product can find you. It is your responsibility, as a marketer, to understand how you're going to tap into the way the brain naturally works. "Subconscious choice is a part of what we do every day.  There's no getting away from it, but you have to do these things in an ethical way." —  Sandeep Dayal About Sandeep Dayal: Managing Director, Cerenti and Author, Branding Between the EarsSandeep Dayal is the managing director of the consulting firm Cerenti. He advises senior executives at Fortune 500 companies in industries spanning pharmaceuticals, financial services, and consumer products.  His latest book Branding Between the Ears has been described by some as the definitive advance in the understanding of what makes some brands truly iconic. It draws on his years of experience in working with some of the most successful consumer brands and his company’s proprietary knowledge capital.Connect with Sandeep DayalWebsite and book, Branding Between the Ears: https://www.sandeepdayal.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/sandeepdayalLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandeep-dayal-8361b61/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064465411245&is_tour_dismissed=truesandeepdayal004/Resources Mentioned:The Empathy Edge interview with Michael Ventura (GE story): How to Apply Empathy to Tough Business Challenges.The Empathy Edge interview with Melina Palmer (Behavioral Economics): Why Your Customers Can't Tell You What They Want  Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

Mike O'Bryan discusses the importance of centering humanity in work and systems. He delves into narrative intelligence, shared humanity, dehumanization, and the impact of lacking narrative intelligence on racism and violence. The conversation also explores the future of work, economic policies, and the necessity of building inclusive cultures that prioritize belongingness and equity.

One of the most common myths about leadership is that arrogant, over-confident people are better leaders. Humbitious leaders shatter that myth. Research has shown that humility, when combined with ambition, can significantly improve your performance and the performance of your teams and organization. Humility is not weakness, lack of self-esteem, or low assertiveness; in fact, it is the exact opposite, since it requires strength, courage, and fierce determination. Today, Amer Kaissi defines humility and explains how to balance it with ambition for maximum success. He shares some examples of how he has helped low humility/high ambition leaders improve their success and team dynamics, and as well as high humility/low ambitious leaders gain more confident control. We discuss why humility starts with self-awareness, and then how it works in relationship to others. And Amer gives great examples of hunbitious leaders you can learn from.  Key Takeaways:There is a connection between humility, resilience, and adaptability. If you are humble, you are able to overcome a challenge and come back stronger. Listen to understand, don’t just listen to reply. Prepare yourself and practice having difficult conversations. Don’t avoid, don’t delay, and don’t dread these conversations because they will need to happen. It requires confidence to be humble and have empathy. It takes confidence and courage to have space for others.  "We need to bring both high humility and high ambition. That's the only way we can have high performance in the long run." —  Amer Kaissi About Amer Kaissi , Professor and Author of Humbitious:Amer Kaissi is an-award winning Professor of Healthcare Administration at Trinity University in San Antonio. He teaches Leadership and Public Speaking. He is also an executive coach and author. His most recent book is Humbitious: The Power of Low-Ego, High-Drive Leadership. He reads at least 65 books every year. He is an avid soccer fan, he loves to run, cook and listen to 90’s hip hop music very loud in his car. He enjoys a good cappuccino, but his biggest weakness is McDonald’s French fries. He lives with his wife and two teenagers. He was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon.Connect with Amer Kaissi:  Website: https://www.amerkaissi.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/amerkaissi10LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amer-kaissi-ph-d-38258919/Books: https://www.amerkaissi.com/books    Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

You think your organization's challenges are tough? Try healthcare, where lives are on the line! Not only has this industry been stretched to its limit during the pandemic, we have issues of healthcare literacy, inequities across certain populations, and burnout among our most talented practitioners. My guest today offers us energy and profound hope on the future of healthcare and how we can apply design thinking to this industry - and to your own organization - for better outcomes. Rhonda Manns is a Nurse innovator who will share her fascinating story about pivoting from an ER nurse to product management. Rhonda explains the difference between human-centered design and design thinking and explains how to use those concepts in any business for better, holistic solutions. We discuss the impact and role that nurses play in solving business problems through empathy.  She shares some interesting healthcare Hackathon stories, and even explains how you can be empathetic and still protect yourself from burnout. If anyone knows about this skill, it's a nurse!  Key Takeaways:Design thinking in healthcare allows you to remove the constraints of assumptions and biases and helps you to increase your creativity.  If you have empathy and real world experience, it doesn't matter what your background and education is. You can unleash human creativity and innovation within a group of people with just a little bit of guidance, by leveraging their empathy and lived experience.Empathy is showing up with curiosity, an open heart, and the right questions to solve your problems.Innovation is bred out of chaos.  "Being a part of that hands-on, real life care every day helps nurses to enhance the business. Health care has its own culture, its own language and you need clinicians in those business decisions." —  Rhonda Manns About Rhonda Manns, Nurse Innovator:Recognized as one of LinkedIn’s Leaders in Nursing, Rhonda Manns is a registered nurse, certified case manager, and Nurse innovator who uses design-thinking to help software teams reach the nation’s most vulnerable populations. She is a mentor, a contributing author, and a clinical nurse advisor for a nurse-led healthcare startup in Boston who will be launching her own nurse-led project to solve for nurse exodus this Summer. Connect with Rhonda Manns:  Twitter: https://twitter.com/realRhondaMannsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhondajmannsInstagram: https://instagram.com/realrhondamannsResources Mentioned:Society of Nurse Scientists, Innovators, Entrepreneurs & LeadersHeather Hiscox interview: The Surprising Empathy Gap in Social ImpactJamie Greenwood interview: Why Empathy for Others Starts With Compassion for Yourself  Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that leadership has changed. Not just because of our recent pandemic, but because of what research is telling us works, and what employees are demanding from their workplace cultures. But when we say we have to "redefine leadership", what does that actually mean? It means killing the notion of the command and control "Alpha Leader" and understanding that today's complex business challenges demand a more collaborative approach driven by empathy. My guest today is leadership expert Danielle Harlan. She shares what this new vision of leadership means to you, how you can increase your empathy and effectiveness, and also what your organization can do to foster a more empathetic and inclusive environment that translates into success. Key Takeaways:Technology has been a key piece in making things more transparent. It also gives us the ability to ask more interesting questions and better understand what people are wanting from the businesses they buy from. Apologize when you hurt someone or a group. Acknowledge it and move forward, but apologize, even when it wasn’t the intent to cause harm. You can increase your empathy by engaging in media - read fiction, watch shows, listen to music - and try to understand those perspectives that differ from your own.  "Our concept of leadership is really expanding. It's more relational, more collective, and there's a strong ethical and justice-oriented component." - Danielle Harlan About Danielle Harlan, Founder & CEO, Center for Advancing Leadership and Human Potential:As the Founder and CEO of the Center for Advancing Leadership and Human Potential, Danielle Harlan, Ph.D., is on a mission to transform leadership for the modern world. Through a combination of consulting, teaching, coaching, and keynote offerings, she empowers individuals, teams, and organizations to develop the competencies necessary for succeeding, thriving, and generating a lasting positive impact in their local and global communities.As an experienced speaker and facilitator (both in-person and virtual first), Danielle delivers compelling, energetic, and evidence-based presentations and programs—with measurable results. She has been the featured speaker for conferences, summits, and corporate events—and has facilitated workshops, programs, and retreats for commercial, nonprofit, government, health care, and educational organizations around the world.As a former special education teacher, Danielle’s work is rooted in equity, emotional intelligence, and the science of human motivation—and her bestselling book, The New Alpha: Join the Rising Movement of Influencers and Changemakers Who Are Redefining Leadership, offers a new paradigm for leadership that’s focused on facilitating collective ownership of a shared mission and enabling the structures and systems necessary to bring it to life in an ethical, sustainable, and just way.Named one of Silicon Valley's "40 Under 40," Danielle has been a speaker for TEDx and worked as an instructor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and U.C. Berkeley Extension's Corporate and Professional Development Program. In addition, she has been featured in leading publications such as Fast Company, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc., and Women's Health.Danielle earned her doctorate in political science and M.A. in education from Stanford University, where she was a Javits National Fellow and was awarded the Centennial Teaching Prize for excellence in instruction. Prior to launching the Center for Advancing Leadership and Human Potential, she was the Chief of Operations for the Carnegie Foundation, where she worked to harness the power of networks and quality improvement strategies to solve important educational problems. She is a member of the International Leadership Association and the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. Connect with Danielle Harlan:  Our Coach - Organizational Wellness and Human Thriving Assessment Tool: https://ourcoach.io/Twitter; https://twitter.com/danielleharlanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielleharlan/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielle.harlan.1/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershipandhumanpotential/Website: https://www.leadershipandhumanpotential.com/Book: The New Alpha https://www.amazon.com/New-Alpha-Influencers-Changemakers-Redefining/dp/1259641910/ Resources Mentioned:Our Coach: Organizational Wellness and Human Thriving Assessment ToolTerri Givens on The Empathy Edge, talking about Radical EmpathyBrent Lowe and Susan Basterfield on The Empathy Edge, talking about No Manager RequiredCathy KasserlyMarshall Ganz, The Power of StorytellingThe Artist's Way by Julia Cameron  Don’t forget to download your free guide! Discover The 5 Business Benefits of Empathy: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy  Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria’s brand strategy work and books: Red-Slice.comHire Maria to speak at your next event: Red-Slice.com/Speaker-Maria-RossTake my LinkedIn Learning Course! Leading with EmpathyLinkedIn: Maria RossInstagram: @redslicemariaTwitter: @redsliceFacebook: Red Slice