#205 | Empathy in the Age of AI With Sharon Steed

Empathy and AI, now there’s a combo I didn’t think would be on my playlist a few years ago! This week, I got to speak with the wonderful Sharon Steed, a communication expert and LinkedIn Learning instructor whose courses always make me do a little self-check about how I’m showing up in the virtual world. We talked about keeping our human hearts front and center even as ChatGPT and endless notification pings nudge us toward autopilot.

Sharon swears by patience as the unsung hero of empathy, especially when our world is so busy being, well, busy. That means resisting the urge to speed through conversations or give half our attention while Slack, LinkedIn, and Netflix are calling our name. Don’t underestimate the power of physically stopping, asking a follow-up question, and giving your actual attention to the person in front of you.

Empathy isn’t just for one-on-ones in the workplace; it works wonders with people of all ages and backgrounds. Don’t just nod politely at your 11-year-old nephew or your 60-year-old coworker; ask them about their experience. You might be surprised what new perspectives pop up!

Lastly, Sharon gave us a fun little challenge: Next time you feel so sure you’re right during a conversation, pause and ask yourself, “Why do I think I’m right? Where did that belief come from?” You might discover a bias or a new way forward.

If you’re ready to feel a bit more connected at work and at home, try one of these tips this week.

Timestamps:

07:20 How Sharon became a public speaker with a stutter

10:45 Easy first steps for improving your empathy

14:11 Tips for handling the onslaught of new AI tools

21:40 How to use AI to build real life relationships

26:27 Bridging the generational gap at work

32:55 Why asking questions about others is step 1 in empathy

36:40 Taking yourself out of other people’s opinions

41:10 How to balance being a leader and being transparent

44:00 Culture creators vs culture carriers

53:08 Homework assignment

Links:

Connect with Sharon on LinkedIn

Sharon’s New Course: Communicating with Empathy

Info Sheet: Five questions leaders need to ask to boost inclusion in their organizations

Sharon’s newsletter: Lead with Vulnerability

People to follow:

Dr Emily Anhalt

Jim Kwik

Dean Karrel

If You Enjoyed Today’s Episode:

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Want To Learn More With Me?: Check out my LinkedIn learning courses here. 

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