What does empathy mean as part of a corporate culture?

Fayaz Nagoor Shaikh suggested this topic and I thought, “Oof, that is going to be a lot to pull apart in ten minutes.” But what a great conversation we ended up having.

 

We touched on the difference between empathy and sympathy and that empathy happens in small groups, one to one. Not in townhalls and large meetings.

 

It is someone each person has to be willing to do.

 

It has to start at the top and be built from the bottom.

 

I asked how someone might be able to tell during the interview process if an organization is empathic or toxic (I am now wondering if there is a space in between – might have to have another conversation about that).

 

Paula Jenkins was straightforward – ask the question. The interview is your chance to get to know them. Ask.

 

Fayaz commented that sometimes you can’t tell until you are in the organization that it is toxic and that as soon as you realize that, get out.

 

I added that asking about someone’s experience working there was a good way to learn how the organization is from the inside. Although Paula cautioned that people don’t owe you their personal stories.

 

I would have loved to have delved into that topic. How much does an interviewer owe you the truth about their experience in an organization and how much is their private story?

 

Sadly, we didn’t have time to get into it. I will add that to my list of Quick Hits topics for another day.

 

What do you think? Is it possible for empathy to be part of a corporate culture and what questions would you ask to determine that in an interview process?

 

Connect with the panelists:
Paula Jenkins, MBA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulajenkinslfsconsulting/

Owner and CEO at LFS Consulting where she does leadership development and financial literacy

 

Fayaz Nagoor Shaikh: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fayaznagoor/

Learning transformation expert. A people-focused leader building organizational capabilities through innovative, human-centric solution design

Dr Robyn Odegaard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robynodegaard/

High Performance Concierge Psychologist and Quick Hits Facilitator

 

Want a summary of the Quick Hits I post every week, plus the links to the LinkedIn pages of each of the panelist to show up in your in-box every week? Just let me know where to send it: https://drrobynodegaard.com/quick-hits-notifications/

 

 

  #QuickHits are designed to exercise your brain by letting you listen in on an unscripted conversation to get other people's thoughts on pertinent subjects. If you would like to join a conversation or have a topic you would like to hear discussed, please message me. https://www.DrRobynOdegaard.com

 

#corporateculture #empathy #interviewquestions