• Empathy at Work – Explore how empathy can help us better understand people.
• The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace – Understand the benefits of empathetic leadership.
• Connect with Empathy, but Lead with Compassion – Discover key strategies for using empathy as a catalyst for leading with more compassion.

• The Importance of Empathy (3:31 minutes) – What is empathy and why is it important?
• Brené Brown on Empathy (2:53 minutes) – Being empathetic is not about making things better, but connecting with someone else’s experience.
• Having Empathy (3:44 minutes) – Watch how empathy can help during a tough conversation.
• Inside Out Empathy (1:45 minutes) – View an example that demonstrates how using empathy is not the same as problem solving.

• In the Inside Out video, Joy seems frustrated that Sadness wants to talk to Bing Bong (elephant-like character) about their sadness. Has anyone ever told you to “cheer up,” “forget about it,” or “calm down,” when you were feeling emotional? What was the impact of those words?
• Think of a time when someone did not extend empathy to you, and you felt that your emotions were not acknowledged. How did that feel? What do you wish they had done differently?
• Think of a time when someone demonstrated empathy to you. What did it feel like? Did you feel connected or understood? Why or why not?
• What empathy do you find easiest to deploy — cognitive, emotional, or compassionate? Why?
• Do you find it easier to give some people empathy more than others? What do you think contributes to that?

• Define empathy in your own words.
• Examine your biases and how they may impact your ability to relate with someone else. Consider your answers in the "Reflect on Something" section. Who do you find it hard to relate to?
• Ask a trusted friend, family member, or colleague about your empathy skills. Be open to feedback. 
• Identify a topic or perspective that you don’t know a lot about and learn more about the alternate perspective. Read articles about the subject and try to take an empathetic perspective. Examine what you know now and how that may help you better connect with others in the future.
• Make a plan for your empathy fatigue when the emotional toll of helping others becomes too much for you to bear. How will you practice self-care?

Have you learned something interesting? Had an epiphany? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share with a colleague or reach out to the Learning & Development Team with feedback.

• Empathy is the ability to recognize emotions in others and understand their perspectives. Sympathy is a concern for someone, but only from your own perspective, and doesn’t take into account the other person’s perspectives or emotions.
• Empathy is a key part of emotional intelligence, and affords us the opportunity to create meaningful connections and relationships.
• Compassionate empathy is a form of empathy that demonstrates concern for another person, while taking action to support them.
• Empathy can be productive. Research shows that empathetic leaders are viewed as high performers. They also encourage engagement and motivation on their teams.
• Empathy can be learned. By giving your full attention to others, trying to understand their perspectives, and paying attention to nonverbal cues, you can enhance your ability to feel with others.

• 10 Steps to Effective Listening – Tips for more effective listening.
• How Good Are Your Listening Skills? – Assess your listening strengths and opportunities for improvement.
• What Great Listeners Actually Do – The real qualities of good listeners.
• Use Active Listening Skills to Coach Others – How listening will help you to better understand the conversation.

• It’s Not About the Nail (1:41 minutes) – A humorous look at listening and problem solving.
• Active Listening (4:03 minutes) – How to make good listening more common practice.
• Listen with Empathy (2:57 minutes) – Listening with empathy to strengthen your relationships.

• What strengths do you have as a listener? What are your areas for improvement?
• Do you consider yourself a problem solver? If so, how does that show up in your conversations?
• How might you listen with empathy? How well do you assess the speaker’s emotions when you are listening to a challenging situation?
• How do you leverage questions to clarify your understanding? What questions do you ask to find out more about feelings and perspectives?
• What is one thing you can begin working on to improve your listening skills today?

• Put technology (phone, computer, etc.) completely aside the next time you are having a conversation with someone.
• Try the 4 steps of listening with a trusted friend or colleague. Pick a topic, such as their favorite restaurant or vacation spot, and ask them to share their story. Listen.
  • Step 1: Listen and understand
  • Step 2: Inquire
  • Step 3: Summarize
  • Step 4: Acknowledge perspective
  • At the conclusion, discuss when you felt the greatest point of connection and understanding. 
• Ask for feedback on your listening skills, and be open to receiving it. Ask your feedback partner, do you feel heard and validated when we have a conversation?
• Pay attention to how you listen when you don’t agree with the speaker. Do you acknowledge someone’s perspective when you have a different opinion?
• Be attuned to body language when you are listening. What is your body language? Do you lean in, nod your head, and maintain eye contact? What do you notice about the other person’s body language?

Have you learned something interesting? Had an epiphany? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share with a colleague or reach out to the Learning & Development Team with feedback.

• Summarize what you hear from the other person. Ask open-ended questions to clarify uncertain points. Not only will this ensure you have a shared meaning, but the other person will feel heard and acknowledged.
• Limit interruptions and distractions. Be in an environment where you can give the speaker your full attention. If it is not a good time to talk, schedule another time for the conversation.
• Listen with empathy. Put yourself in their shoes. Use phrases that don’t discount them. Use validating statements. Recognize their emotions. By better understanding the emotional impact of the situation, you can respond with empathy and create connection.
• Keep an open mind during the conversation. Your opinions, biases, and judgements will likely be the first thoughts that come to mind. Try to focus and quiet those thoughts so you can truly hear the other person’s feelings and perspectives. Listen to what the other person is saying that they need. Try not to formulate your response while they are speaking.

• Brene Brown: How Vulnerability Can Make Our Lives Better – Vulnerability can make our lives stronger. Learn how to embrace vulnerability and explore self-reflection questions.
• How Showing Vulnerability Helps Build a Stronger Team – The key to developing trust with others is being vulnerable.
• The Soft Stuff is the Hard Stuff: Leaders Must Show Vulnerability in Uncertain Times – Learn the importance of honesty and the power of vulnerability.
• What Bosses Gain by Being Vulnerable – Read about vulnerability and human connection.

• Vulnerability, Not Over-Sharing (3:12 minutes) – Research Professor and Academic Brené Brown discusses how vulnerability does not mean “putting it all out there.”
• The Power of Vulnerability (3:40 minutes) – Leverage vulnerability in times of uncertainty.
• Vulnerability: The Workplace Superpower Disguised as a Weakness (Audio) (7 minutes) – Vulnerability can be a powerful tool.
• How to Start in Being More Vulnerable (4:22 minutes) – Leadership guru Simon Sinek shares how vulnerability takes strength.

• Do you consider yourself to be vulnerable? Why or why not? Does anything hold you back from being vulnerable in the workplace? 
• When you feel vulnerable, how do you handle it? Do you put up barriers, or armor (as Brené Brown describes)? Alternately, do you lean into the exposure?
• Based on the readings and videos, how might sharing personal aspects of yourself help you lead your team, or be a better team member?
• When you are feeling anxious or confused, who can you ask for input?
• Think of a time when you felt truly connected to another person. What was shared between you to produce this bond?

• Journal about a time when you were afraid of an outcome. Then write what actually occurred. List the positives that came out of that uncertain time.
• Pay attention to vulnerability in the workplace. Do people share personally in conversations and meetings? Why or why not? 
• Talk to someone you trust — someone you feel also demonstrates vulnerability. Ask them how displaying vulnerability benefits them. 
• Next time you are feeling uncertain or exposed, try sharing that feeling with a trusted person. Reflect on that conversation. How did you feel about this disclosure? 
• Leverage your active listening skills in a conversation or meeting. Ask questions, rather than provide answers. Notice what new ideas and suggestions emerge from this approach. 

Have you learned something interesting? Had an epiphany? Don’t keep it to yourself! Share with a colleague or reach out to the Learning & Development Team with feedback.

• Showing vulnerability takes strength and courage. It is not a weakness.
• Self-reflection is the start to leveraging vulnerability. When we can get used to exploring our thoughts and feelings, we share our humanity and create better connections with others.
• Being vulnerable doesn’t mean that we are not capable, but that we are capable enough to recognize when we can benefit from the help of others.
• “Vulnerability minus boundaries is not vulnerability” – Brené Brown. Vulnerability is not about sharing all of your hardships, crying in front of people, or using meetings as a place to vent your fears and frustrations.
• When we embrace vulnerability, we can create psychological safety, build trust, inspire creativity, create shared ownership, and build better teams.