Welcome the final Hot Take of 2023! In this final Hot Take of the year, I'll share a bit about how to find joy in what can feel like a dark, bleak time in the world and what empathy calls us to be for others. And I share an anecdote from my 9-year-old son that prompted me to think about how some leaders are being a bit lazy when it comes to reaping the benefits of empathetic cultures.Have a wonderful holiday season and here's to more empathy, joy, and peace in our world in 2024!To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Empathy needs to be woven into the way we interact with each other, it cannot be outsourced to HR as the one person for empathy. Seek out ways to find ways to bring empathy, kindness, and joy into your own home, work, and community this holiday season and beyond. 2024 promises us another chance to engage, connect, and love. Let’s use it for those purposes and make creating genuine relationships one of our goals for the new year. "The point of empathetic leadership is that your team members know that YOU, their leader, have their backs, and see, hear, and value them." —  Maria Ross Brand Story Breakthrough course to help you craft a clear, compelling brand story  - includes weekly office hours with Maria!Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

How does trauma impact the workplace and organizational performance? If you're a human being, then yes, trauma impacts you and your team. Trauma doesn't care whether you're at work or not. Everyone experiences trauma differently in their brain and body. The solution is to create a safe and trusting environment for leaders to get curious about their people and for someone in distress to be able to get support. The important thing to remember is that this isn't a competition - no one's trauma is more or less "worthy" than another's.Today, my guest Katharine Manning and I discuss what is trauma, how it affects the workplace, how we can recognize trauma in others, and 5 steps to respond to a colleague, team member - or frankly anyone - dealing with trauma. She shares great examples of how we might brush things off or inadvertently let go of a great employee when we're not cognizant of trauma, what it means to be a trauma-informed organization, and three steps to creating one. This was a robust conversation and I know whether you are a leader or a colleague will get so much out of it to boost performance and engagement - while also supporting someone in need. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Any trauma will change us - we need to acknowledge that change, we can then embrace that new version of us.Trauma can manifest itself in different ways in different people. It can also be triggered by situations that, for some, may not be triggering and for others it’s life-shattering. You can make tough decisions and be a strong leader with empathy. Those are the best leaders with the most successful companies.  "Trauma isn't a jacket that you can just take off when it's time to go to work. We carry it with us and it affects how we show up…I want to get people away from trying to decide whether what you have gone through counts as trauma. Just focus on the person in front of you and what they need." —  Katharine Manning About Katharine Manning, President, Blackbird DC and author, The Empathetic Workplace Katharine Manning is the President of Blackbird DC, which provides training and consultation on empathy at work. She is the author of The Empathetic Workplace: Five Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job, and teaches at American University and in the Master’s in Trauma-Informed Leadership Program at Dominican University. She has worked on issues of trauma and victimization for more than 25 years.References MentionedThe Empathy Edge podcast, Sarah R. Browne, It's Possible to Parent AND Lead without Punishment- the Brain Science Behind ItLinkedIn Article by Maria Ross: What Does Psychological Abuse at Work Look Like?Connect with Katharine ManningBlackbird DC: http://www.blackbird-dc.comBook: The Empathetic Workplace: 5 Steps to a Compassionate, Calm, and Confident Response to Trauma on the Job X: https://twitter.com/kl_manning LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katharine-manning/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EmpatheticWorkplace Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/empatheticworkplace/Join to get weekly texts on empathy, leadership, and resilience: Text "blackbird" to 833-975-1945Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

A military historian walks into a company and transforms their customer engagement strategy to increase revenue and retention. While this might sound like the start of a very strange joke, it's a true story. When searching for frameworks on how to better engage your customers with empathy, look no further than my guest today, John Southard.  Backed by more than 10 years of research built into his book, Defend and Befriend: The US Marine Corps and Combined Action Platoons in Vietnam, John has transformed the lessons from his historical research into a simple and proven empathy framework that companies can leverage to better understand customer needs - and we discuss that framework today, as well as examples each stage in action. We discuss why some leaders view the customer as the enemy and how that's hurting their growth, why simply responding to customer surveys is not the way to build engagement, and how your hiring decisions impact customer retention and engagement in ways you may not realize. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Exposure to groups other than yourself is the gateway to empathy. Getting into conversation is the first step to breaking false assumptions and realizing that both sides are human. A recent study shows that a lack of empathy from brands to consumers loses companies money, to the tune of $300M, every year.Cultivating communities and relationships with customers allows you to get feedback from them directly and build trust with those customers. When trying to find your differentiator - start with what your customers need, both overtly and covertly. It takes time, but the ROI is worth it and sustainable in the long term. "What unfolded is…the greatest unknown story of empathy, because these Marines show up and realize quickly, we have to live here, we have to abide by their rules, we have to understand their culture…because our personal survival literally depends on it. They lived a day in the life of these villagers to gain their respect." —  John Southard Episode References: The Empathy Edge podcast, Kara Goldin, On Undaunted LeadershipThe Empathy Edge podcast, Sandy Thompson, How to Make People Fall in Love with Your BrandBrand Story Breakthrough course to help you craft a clear, compelling brand story  - includes weekly office hours with Maria!About John Southard, Customer Engagement Expert, Speaker, AuthorJohn has a Ph.D. in U.S. Military History and is an author, speaker, and expert in customer engagement and empathetic leadership. He has applied his historical research on empathy to corporate America to build empathetic leaders and cultures and optimize customer and employee experiences. Backed by more than 10 years of research, John has transformed the lessons from his historical research into a simple and proven empathy framework that companies can leverage to better understand customer needs.Connect with John SouthardWebsite: Southard Speaks: https://www.johnsouthardspeaks.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnsouthardhistoryphd/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/southardspeaksBook: Defend and Befriend: The US Marine Corp and Combined Action Platoons in VietnamJoin the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

Parenting has so many parallels with team leadership and after today's episode, you'll be better equipped to raise healthy, emotionally connected kids AND be a stronger leader that enables your team to collaborate and perform more effectively. Today, my guest parenting coach Sarah R. Moore shares insights from her new book Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science, and Better Behavior. Sarah is the founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting and today, she shares her story of leveraging more than 20 years in Corporate America and had no idea how well her executive negotiation skills would serve her in parenting!  We discuss what peaceful discipline means, why empathy in parenting is more important than people realize, and why brain science tells us that punishments or punitive leadership fails or backfires and doesn't help you achieve your goals. We also talk about the power of vulnerability and why it may look very different from what you may think. Throughout, we talk about the parallels between applying these principles as parents and as organizational leaders.  To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:For children and adults, it is only possible to learn when there is a sense of emotional safety in the body. There are ways to set our children and employees up for success with empathy, no matter what age they are. Speaking with curiosity and neutrality rather than accusation can help to foster the feeling of safety. Every human on the planet wants to be viewed positively and have a sense of belonging and community. Story can give people a sense of safety, even in business. And everyone can tell those stories, even if they don’t feel creative or like they’re good at it.  "If we lead with punishment, the learning part of the brain shuts off. So (they) might be able to go through the motions in the moment, but there's not going to be any lasting change in behavior because they're literally not in a place where they can assimilate new information." —  Sarah R. MooreEpisode Reference: Brand Story Breakthrough course to help you craft a clear, compelling brand story  - includes weekly office hours with Maria!About Sarah R. Moore: Parenting Coach, Speaker, Author, Peaceful DisciplineSarah R. Moore is best-selling author of Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science, and Better Behavior, and the founder of Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting. She's a public speaker, armchair neuroscientist, and most importantly, a Mama. She's a lifelong learner with training in child development, trauma recovery, interpersonal neurobiology, and improv comedy. As a certified Master Trainer in conscious parenting, she helps bring JOY, EASE, and CONNECTION back to families around the globe. Her work has been featured in HuffPost, Scary Mommy, Motherly, Yahoo!, Her View from Home, and The Natural Parent Magazine, among others. She worked in corporate America for 20 years and had no idea how well her executive negotiation skills would serve her in parenting.Connect with Sarah R. Moore:Dandelion Seeds Positive Parenting: https://dandelion-seeds.com/Book: Peaceful Discipline: Story Teaching, Brain Science, and Better BehaviorX: https://twitter.com/DandelionSeeds5 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-r-moore-b0535b7/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DandelionSeedsPositiveParenting/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dandelionseedspositiveliving/ Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

Your customer is the lifeblood of your company. We hear this over and over again. Yet, companies don't do a great job of crafting a customer experience that actually meets our needs, values our time, and helps us achieve our goals. Customer experience is all the rage - why do so many companies get it wrong?Today, Aransas Savas and I discuss the myths of customer experience strategy: where companies go wrong in aligning the entire business around the customer's experience and why those end-of-call automated surveys just give you useless data. She shares her own experiences with brands on creating shifts in how the company views customer needs. Aransas shares the concept of "Jobs to Be Done" as a useful way to segment what customers need from you, why journey mapping and Net Promoter Scores don't give you a holistic picture of customer experience, and why it's far more useful to consider modes instead. We discuss how measuring Time Well Spent, Time Well Invested, and Time Well Saved helps both B2C and B2B brands more effectively understand what customers perceive as valuable. Finally, she shares the important highlights from Stone Mantel's recent 2023 Customer Experience Trends Report. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Customers are not robots - they will not likely follow the journeys you lay out in an idealized situation. You need to consider the customer every step of the way. The wrong questions are being asked during traditional data collection - as we change the questions and how they’re being asked, you will be able to gather more valuable data to move forward in understanding your customer’s experience. While AI can help to identify trends, it does still require a human touch to interpret the data for best use. Having a company purpose does not mean you understand your customer’s purpose.  "There’s a functional job to be done, and there's an emotional, social, and  aspirational job. If I can understand what all four of those are, I create a much more valuable product than if my product experience is strictly based on the functional job to be done." —  Aransas SavasAbout Aransas Savas, Coach & Experience DesignerAransas Savas is a coach, an experience designer at Stone Mantel, and the co-host of the Experience Strategy Podcast.  Drawing on over two decades of experience, Aransas combines behavioral science and coaching to partner with experience strategists at leading consumer brands, including Weight Watchers, Best Buy, Truist Bank, and Clayton Homes to create meaningful, and often, transformative, customer journeys.Based in Brooklyn, she is a 20-time marathoner, a wife to a newscaster, and a mother to a 200-year-old sourdough culture, a fluffy pup, and two spirited, creative girls.References: Stone Mantel's 2023 Experience Strategy Trends Report80-page report of the latest must-know Experience Strategy Trends for 2023, a deep analysis of cultural and customer trends based on insights collected from more than 3,200 customers and over 200 experience strategists over the course of 20 months.The Empathy Edge Podcast, Melina Palmer: Why Your Customers Can't Tell You What They WantConnect with Aransas SavasStone Mantel: https://www.stonemantel.co/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aransassavas/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aransasrose/Podcast: The Experience Strategy PodcastJoin the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria:Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

The reports are in. Unless you've been living under a rock, you are hearing more and and more about how having an attitude of gratitude enhances our lives - and our performance. In this November Hot Take episode, Maria shares about how embracing gratitude will not only strengthen your empathy, but how it can help you to improve your life. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Despite the misinformation surrounding the Thanksgiving season, it is so valuable to step back and be thankful for what we do have. Pausing is essential to building empathy - it allows us to see, hear, and notice them in a way we can’t when we are always rushing about. Going fast makes us less productive and less effective  - by slowing down we are able to have more of an impact than we realize. "Steadying yourself to think about what you can be grateful for enables you to slow down enough to notice who and what is around you." —  Maria Ross References Mentioned: Studies on gratitude: Emotional Intelligence and Gratitude, Wharton HealthcareMindful: How to Practice GratitudeThe Empathy Edge interviews:Paul Marobella: Leading Through CrisisChris L. Johnson: When Leaders Pause, They WinBrand Story Breakthrough course to help you craft a clear, compelling brand story  - includes weekly office hours with Maria!Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

When we think of making big asks that will catalyze us into a new role, more funding, or higher pay, we tend to ask small for fear of hearing a dreaded NO. But today's guest, Dia Bondi, explains the role empathy plays in making big asks - and why you actually want to reframe the value of getting a YES by actively seeking out the NO so you can achieve your goals.Today, Dia shares her incredible journey of working with high-profile leaders and then making the decision to go to auctioneering school. She talks about the mental models of auctioneering and how they can help us reframe our asks in a way that gets us closer to our goals. We talk about her 6-step framework for building your ask, how to step into your zone of freaking out and see it as your zone of potential, why we need to "order off the menu" more, and how we make the mistake of conflating worth and worthiness.  Her work has personally benefited my life and business and I know it will do the same for you. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:The ask isn’t about one person - it is something that should be mutually beneficial to both parties. The zone between the “yes” and the guaranteed “no” is a world of possibilities. If you ask for the “no” and then work down, you might get more than you ever thought possible. Find out if the person you’re speaking with is the decision maker - if they are not, offer support and tools that might help them advocate more easily on your behalf.  "We can ask for the thing we think will get us a ‘no’, and then negotiate down. Then you'll know you've not left any money or opportunity on the table. —  Dia Bondi Episode References: Elisa Camahort Page's substack This Week-ish: 2% of venture capital goes to solely women-founded start-ups. Same as in 2007About Dia Bondi, Communications Catalyst & Author, Ask Like An AuctioneerDia Bondi is a Communications Catalyst for high-impact people. In her private coaching and programs, she works with professional C-level leaders, VC-backed founders and ambitious professionals guiding, helping them find their voice and lead with it. Her workshops and talks are hosted by corporations including Quartz, Salesforce, Google’s X.team, and Dropbox. In global sport, she helped Rio de Janeiro secure the 2016 Summer Olympics. After attending auctioneering school for fun, she translated the techniques she learned into a program that prepares ambitious professionals and especially women, to ask for more and leave nothing on the table called Ask Like an Auctioneer. She’s been featured on CNBC Make It, Forbes and Fast Company. Her book, Ask Like an Auctioneer, will be published in 2023. Listen to her podcast Lead With Who You Are.Connect with Dia Bondi Dia Bondi Communications LLC: https://www.diabondi.com X: https://twitter.com/diabondia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dia-bondi/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diabondia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diabondia/ Ask Like An Auctioneer: https://www.asklikeanauctioneer.com Purchase the book:  https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Like-Auctioneer-How-More/dp/1637744129/ref=sr_1_1 Lead with Who You Are podcast: https://www.diabondi.com/podcastDia's TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mFtHKTgyjyUJoin the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

Much of the AI you hear about these days is about large language models trained to look for commonalities and best next guesses. This causes a lot of fear around how AI will be abused - Will the bots take over? Are the inputs unbiased and accurate? Will my teenager cheat on his school essay? But we can take a more thoughtful and opportunistic view of AI, specifically in areas where we can teach AI empathy. Yes, I said teach AI empathy. My guest today, Dr. Michelle Zhou, and I discuss how cognitive AI is different from large learning model AI, how these systems learn empathy, and how they empower both companies and individuals without the resources for expensive solutions. We discuss why empathy is actually even more necessary, not less, in the age of AI. And most importantly, we chat about why everyone needs to get involved in AI - why we need to "democratize it", as Dr. Zhou states, in order to be more inclusive and learn how to respond to a variety of needs and people. Dr. Zhou reveals why she believes basic customer service chatbots are one of the worst uses of AI out there!To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:AI currently looks for commonalities in people and data, as it learns to be more empathetic, we need to teach it how to recognize differences, not just those similarities. The more we all interact with AI, the more that AI is going to be smarter about understanding individual differences.There is a time and place for canned responses by a ChatBot, but often people will respond better if there is a specific response to their unique questions and needs.  "In order for AI to be inclusive, then we need more people to be there. If there are more people participating, then you have more diversity. The more involvement from a human side, the more inclusive AI can be." —  Dr. Michelle Zhou About Michelle Zhou, Co-Founder & CEO, Juji Inc.Dr. Michelle Zhou is a Co-Founder and CEO of Juji, Inc., an Artificial Intelligence (AI) company located in Silicon Valley, specializing in building cognitive conversational AI technologies and solutions that enable the creation and adoption of empathic and empathetic AI agents. Prior to starting Juji, Michelle led the User Systems and Experience Research (USER) group at IBM Research – Almaden and then the IBM Watson Group. Michelle's expertise is in the interdisciplinary area of intelligent user interaction (IUI), including conversational AI systems and personality analytics. She is an inventor of the IBM Watson Personality Insights and has led the research and development of at least a dozen products in her areas of expertise. Michelle has published over 100 peer-reviewed, refereed scientific articles and 45+ patents. Michelle is the Editor-in-Chief of ACM Transactions on Interactive Intelligent Systems (TiiS) and an Associate Editor of ACM Transactions on Intelligent Systems and Technology (TIST). She received a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Columbia University and is an ACM Distinguished Scientist. Dr. Zhou has been featured in Axios, Fortune, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, and spoke at Fortune Brainstorm Tech last year.Connect with Michelle Zhou Website: https://juji.io/ X: https://twitter.com/senseofsnow2011 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mxzhou/   Join the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

Leaders are crunched right now. Many are valiantly trying to adopt empathetic and Compassionate Leadership models to adapt to what employees on the market demand new models of leadership that are more human, but some still struggle to balance that with making tough business decisions, setting boundaries, and achieving high-performance standards - serendipitously, the subject of my next book. Today, Dr. Rebecca Eldredge, a licensed psychologist who supports socially conscious leaders, changemakers, and organizations shares how leaders can identify signs of overwhelm and burnout in their lives and respond to compassionate fatigue. We discussed the huge financial costs to your organization of ignoring mental health, or pushing through when others are counting on you. We also talked about why allowing emotions at work is key to psychological safety, and how leaders who might be reluctant can get more comfortable making space and time for emotions in the workplace to increase engagement, performance, and retention. Take a deep breath and take a listen.  To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:The more familiar you are with the state of relaxation in yourself, the easier you will recognize when burnout begins and you are not in that state of calm. You don’t have to have days or weeks of calm to draw on, it can be even a moment of peace to recognize those calm, nervous system queues. Being empathetic doesn’t mean you don’t do the hard things, it means you’re deliberate and thoughtful when communicating and making those hard decisions. With the skyrocketing costs of healthcare (often as a direct result of stress and burnout), we cannot afford to not take care of our mental and emotional health. "You're much more equipped to make solid decisions when you are connected and when you are in an empathetic and compassionate role with others - and also with yourself." —  Dr. Rebecca EldredgeAbout Dr. Rebecca Eldredge: For the past 20 years, Dr. Rebecca Eldredge has used her commitment to mental health, cultural competence, and social justice to support individuals and organizations to cultivate compassion for themselves as they bring compassion and justice to their organizations and communities. She has been honored to work with corporations, university departments, and refugee resettlement agencies as well as hundreds of diverse clients. Dr. Eldredge completed both her M.A. and her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale and has taught adjunct in the University of Houston's and Our Lady of the Lake's graduate psychology programs. She is also a Step into Your Moxie® Certified Facilitator.Connect with Dr. Rebecca Eldredge:  Website: https://rebeccaephd.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-a-eldredge-phd/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.rebecca_feel_deeply Chrysalis: https://rebeccaephd.com/chrysalis-small-groupSpeaking: https://rebeccaephd.com/speakingFacilitations/Trainings: https://rebeccaephd.com/facilitationJoin the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemariaAchieve radical success putting empathy into action with Businessolver. Techlology with heart, powered by people. https://www.businessolver.com/edgeBook your free seat to Maria's masterclass here- https://bit.ly/4StepBrandStory

You may not know this, but you possess a superpower.  One that helps you connect and engage with almost anyone and become a stronger leader, create a thriving culture and build business value. And the great news is, this superpower is innate to us as humans. But sometimes, for some of us, well, the power atrophies - but it can intentionally be strengthened if you know how.It's called empathy.  Today Maria shares how she discovered this superpower not only to make our world better, but how it drives organizational success - and why we are called to embrace empathetic leadership right NOW in order to move forward and solve our world's complex problems together. To access the episode transcript, please click on the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com Key Takeaways:Binary thinking in leadership is hindering our success  - it is BOTH/AND with empathy and ambition.Empathy has been named the most crucial leadership success skill for the 21st century to solve our complex problems together. And those who don't get it, will be left behindEmpathy is not just a soft skill, it is the key to greater impact (both in the world and to your bottom line) and requires great strength to practice. We have to be able to collaborate, to understand, to hear diverse opinions and points of view - without fear or anger. We have to let everyone have a seat at the table because we cannot solve these problems with our old ways of thinkingWe all need to work on our empathy muscles - where better than at work, where we spend the bulk of our time? "We cannot park our humanity at the office door. We are complex, emotional beings – and when we’re seen, heard, and valued for who we are, we thrive. And so do our organizations." —  Maria Ross Episode References: Check out my course!  Brand Story Breakthrough Thought LeaderJoin the tribe, download your free guide! Discover what empathy can do for you: http://red-slice.com/business-benefits-empathy Connect with Maria: Get the podcast and book: TheEmpathyEdge.comLearn more about Maria and her work: 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: @redslicemariaX: @redsliceFacebook: Red SliceThreads: @redslicemaria