Forbes identifies empathy as the most crucial leadership skill in two recent articles. Research backs up this assertion, showing that empathic leadership enhances organizational effectiveness, well-being, employee retention and innovation. Empathy isn’t just a nice-to-have skill; it’s a must-have for successful leadership and for improving organisational outcomes, including the bottom line. Explore more in our blog post The Empathy Advantage: Why Empathy Skills Matter for Leaders. Learn how empathy can transform your leadership style, fostering a culture of care and harmony.

I consider this course an intensive experience of professional development in leadership. I hand-hold leaders through their personal path of increasing awareness of what is not working in how they are relating to their teams and directing their projects, envision what is possible and help them equip themselves with the skills to change old behaviours. This course is thus designed as a very practical experience to enable this behavioural change through a mixture of teaching, group coaching, individual coaching and mentoring. The course includes:

1. 12 Live virtual calls (Zoom)

We will meet once a week for 90 min live calls, at a time to be determined on Fridays, 14:30-16:00 GMT (UK), starting January 31st and ending on April 25th, 2024 (no class on April 18th).

2. Group coaching

During the live calls, we will use real life examples to practice skills and offer real feedback to help you progress. We will review past conversations and situations and prepare upcoming ones. 9 of the calls will present theoretical aspects as well as their implementation, and 3 calls will be purely practical.

3. Individual coaching calls (virtual)

You will have 2 one-to-one coaching calls with Nati, to customise the materials to your specific needs and help you integrate the skills more deeply. They will be scheduled when it is convenient to you, the first one before the start, and the other two on weeks 3-5 and 7-8 of the programme.

4. Full access to my mentoring for 12 weeks

I make myself fully available through a group (Slack, Whatsapp or similar platform). I will be available daily for the duration of the programme to answer questions, give suggestions and analyse your attempts to bring the skills into practice at work. I will be available until one week after the last call.

5. Supporting materials

You will get a copy of the call´s presentations, worksheets, reading materials, audios, some videos with key theory points and ideas to practice in between the sessions (each week will have specific tasks and aims). This material can greatly support your integration, but you will take it at your own pace.

6. Practice buddies

You will have the opportunity to engage with other participants as practice buddies outside of class in your own schedule. I will suggest a one-hour call weekly of this sort of practice. This is an optional but highly recommended part of the course.

This program focuses on fostering behavioural change through heightened awareness and specific skill development. It provides an “empathic skills toolkit” designed to align your actions with your core values and empower you to bring out the best in people. Throughout the course, you’ll receive practical guidance and clear “maps” to scaffold your practice, enabling continued improvement beyond the program. Expect a hands-on approach that emphasizes practice, as understanding concepts alone won’t translate into practical skills.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Using nonverbal communication deliberately, without manipulation
• Enhancing the efficiency and connectedness of meetings and conversations
• Cultivating honesty that strengthens connections
• Inspiring and motivating collaboration while nurturing authenticity
• Mastering empathic feedback for alignment
• Balancing appreciation and evaluation to promote personal growth
• Avoiding communication barriers and triggers
• Leveraging influence for values-driven change
• Translating strong messages into empathic language
• Deescalating tension and redirecting toward collaboration
• Conflict resolution and inclusive conversations
• Fostering a culture of true collaboration and willingness
• Balancing individual needs with organizational goals
• Reviewing and shifting mindsets for inspirational and supportive communication.

In this transformative journey, you’ll delve into a comprehensive curriculum blending principles from Nonviolent Communication (NVC) with cutting-edge insights from neuroscience. These invaluable teachings will empower you to navigate various domains of empathic leadership, including:

Emotional Intelligence and Literacy

• Develop the ability to identify and understand your emotions and needs.
• Cultivate self-compassion and transform your inner critic into a source of self-empathy.
• Master emotional regulation techniques to bolster your inner resilience.
• Learn to stand firmly grounded in your deeply held values.

Empathic Skills for Connected Conversations and Meetings

• Uncover the power of genuine honesty that fosters meaningful connections and supports personal growth.
• Master the art of giving and receiving empathic feedback, fostering alignment and growth.
• Explore appreciations and evaluations that nurture individuals’ development.
• Identify and overcome communication barriers and triggers that can provoke emotional reactions.
• Harness the deliberate use of verbal and nonverbal communication to serve your objectives.
• Acquire interruption skills for effective communication.
• Learn to decipher and translate strong messages into language that serves life.
• Develop empathic and convergent facilitation skills, ensuring the inclusion of all perspectives.
• Embrace conflict as a transformative process that catalyzes growth and positive change.

Creating a New Empathic Culture

• Inspire and motivate individuals to collaborate authentically, fostering a culture of radical yet compassionate honesty.
• Utilize your influence to drive change that aligns with your core values.
• Cultivate a culture of genuine collaboration and inclusion, moving away from competition and exclusion.
• Skillfully de-escalate violence or tension, steering conversations toward collaboration and unity.
• Strike a balance between individual needs and organizational goals.
• Leverage conflict as a powerful strategy for learning and development.
• Implement meeting structures that encourage participation and efficiency while honouring each individual’s wholeness.

Your active engagement and practice are pivotal to deepening your comprehension and integration of these transformative materials. This course is designed to instigate a shift in your communication and relational habits, but it requires a commitment to embracing and practicing new approaches. Your dedication will be magnified as you experience relief, forge stronger interpersonal work relationships, and become a more effective leader. Unlock the potential within you and embark on a journey towards empathic leadership that fosters a culture of trust, collaboration, and positive change.