Nov 03 2023 42 mins
In this episode of Work's Not Working... Let's Fix It, Siân Harrington and acclaimed thinker Michael Jenkins, author of Expert Humans: Critical Leadership Skills for a Disrupted World, explore why a blend of altruism, empathy and compassion is key to transforming today's workplace into a thriving, humane environment where individuals and organizations can succeed together.
Today's workplaces, more often than not, lack these essential qualities. Transactional relationships, metrics-driven evaluations and mechanistic tasks can sometimes make us forget the genuine human connections that form the essence of a thriving organisation. Yet, evidence suggests those who embrace compassion who understand and act upon it, are the ones more likely to climb the professional ladder, to earn higher incomes and to contribute more profoundly to their organisations
Just imagine a workplace where the heart meets the machine, where compassion intertwines with technology to create a harmonious, productive environment. In this age of AI let's not forget our intrinsic human advantage, our ability to care, connect and create meaningful relationships. This is what Michael calls being expert human.
Key takeaways
- Importance of compassion and empathy: Why these traits are crucial in the workplace for fostering a humane environment conducive to growth and how 'expert humans' leverage care, connection and meaningful relationships
- Digital transformation and disruptors: How AI, the pandemic, inequality, sustainability and trust are disrupting modern society, plus the "tyranny of the algorithm" and why being an expert human matters more than ever
- ACE Model - Altruism, Compassion, Empathy: An explanation of the ACE model and what each of these traits mean in practice
- How you can personally develop altruism, compassion and empathy: Practical approaches to enhancing your personal empathy and your organizational compassion
- ROI of Empathy and Compassion Training: How to develop the business case for empathy and compassion training
- Real-life business implementations: Hear how organizations are using ACE
- Practical steps for leaders: The first three steps you should take to become a compassionate and empathetic leader
About Michael Jenkins
Michael Jenkins, born in Malaysia, has had a distinguished career across continents. A Durham University alumnus with advanced studies from Nanzan University, he's worked at Toyota and was a director at INSEAD. A former CEO of Roffey Park leadership institute, he founded Expert Humans and partners with the Future Work Forum. He is author of Expert Humans: Critical Leadership Skills for a Disrupted World and Toxic Humans - Combatting Poisonous Leadership in Boards and Organisations, published in January 2024.
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