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Do a favor, give a gift, empathize, be grateful for My Gratitude Project

Why Some People Struggle with Empathy | My Gratitude Project Day 24

When an office has a difficult employee, leaders come to me asking why some people lack empathy. It is common to believe that some people simply lack empathy. I understand why some people believe this, even though every human brain (and many animal brains) have mirror neurons in our brains that hardwire us for empathy. So, why do some people seem incapable of understanding others? I’m not qualified to discuss the effects on empathy of neurodiversity conditions like autism, narcissism…

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Empathy and Love: Seeing Through the Glass Clearly | My Gratitude Project Day 23

Empathy and love are inseparable. Both lead to healing and clarity. We all know the sound of empathy and love. Like love, empathy speaks in low tones, like a late-night DJ on a jazz station. Empathy. Is. Slow. It doesn’t rush. It allows people to take back their words and say it again better. There is space for reflection between words and ideas. In Corinthians 13, the Bible describes love (sometimes translated as charity), but it may as well be…

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Healing with Empathy: When Listening Opens the Door | My Gratitude Project Day 22

Even in the toughest moments, healing with empathy can open a door. Recently, I counseled a client to try healing with empathy. For confidentiality, I won’t go into details, only to say that she wanted to repair a badly broken relationship. It wasn’t her fault. The whole situation was difficult and messy, involving trauma, addiction, blaming, half-truths, and bald-faced lies. It was not going to be easy, and she understood that, but it was her best shot if there was…

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Do a favor, give a gift, empathize, be grateful for My Gratitude Project

Empathy and Leadership: What Gen Z Gets Right | My Gratitude Project Day 21

A new poll reveals how empathy and leadership work together. Ask your grandfather about empathy and leadership, and he might draw a blank. His attitude about empathy and yours probably differ significantly. These generational expectations are showing up in the workplace and in polls that help us understand important trends. In a recent poll, Deloitte Digital asked Gen Z what they wanted most in their boss. Empathy ranked second for Gen Z, and fifth for their bosses. What is happening…

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Empathy in Coaching: A Story of Healing and Growth | My Gratitude Project Day 20

Personally, I use empathy in coaching daily. I’ve found empathy in coaching helps the little problems and the little ones. I had a client not too long ago who needed a lot of empathy. When our first session opened, she was in tears. She was managing a complex project with many delays and difficulties, and the process had turned toxic. Professional norms had broken down, and it had become normal to yell and scream and blame throughout meetings. I thought…

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Do a favor, give a gift, empathize, be grateful for My Gratitude Project

Conflict and Empathy: The Key to Real Change | My Gratitude Project Day 19

Conflict and empathy: usually empathy is more effective. If you’re gearing up for conflict and empathy crosses you mind, what should you do? Instead of conflict, try empathy. I know what you are thinking. If you want to fight, the last thing you want to do is empathize. So, ask yourself, do you want to fight or do you want results? Conflict comes from the head—from the need to be right or to stay in control. On the contrary, empathy…

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Lisa D. Foster, Ph.D. ACC  is an independent coach. As an Associate Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation, Lisa honors and abides by the ICF Code of Ethics.  All coaching sessions and consultations are confidential.

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