006 The Power of Empathy - Geoff Colvin - a podcast by Bob Burg
from 2016-03-10T08:00
Empathy, Technology, Success, Teamwork, Relationships
Summary
We often hear about the value of empathy, but what is it, really? Is it simply a nice thing to have, or is it vital to your success? Can it be developed if you’re not born with a natural sense of empathy? Bob discusses these questions at the top of this episode. In the interview segment, we’ll hear from Geoff Colvin, who has written a brilliant book about competing in our age of advanced technology. Is there a link between technology and empathy? To hear the answer to this question, and much more, tune in to today’s episode!
Bob's Thought of the Day
- A well-developed sense of empathy is key to your mastery of people skills, which ultimately determine your success in leadership, business, and all relationships.
- Empathy is “the identification with or vicarious experiencing of the other person’s feelings.”
- When someone with true empathy listens, the other person feels truly heard. And feeling heard is what makes the difference.
Interview with Geoff Colvin
- Technology is not our enemy. It is our friend. Nothing in history has come anywhere near the value of technology in making people’s lives better.
- Advancing technology is doing what it has always done: making some skills more valuable, and some skills less valuable. Those who embrace this truth have a chance to live much better lives.
- The high-value skills today are the deep humans skills of interaction: empathy, collaboration, working together to solve problems creatively, relationship-building, and storytelling. The most profitable companies are ones that make empathy a core value. Geoff calls empathy “The Critical 21st Century Skill.”
- Women are, on average, better than men at reading people and discerning emotions. However, everyone can improve their skills in these areas.
- A more diverse team comes up with better answers. The more women you add, the smarter and more effective the team becomes.
Links
Talent is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else
Humans are Underrated: What High Achievers Know that Brilliant Machines Never Will
Further episodes of The Go-Giver Podcast
Further podcasts by Bob Burg
Website of Bob Burg