How Courageous Conversations at Work Can Also Be Empathic - A Spotlight on Shola Kaye

My weekly Purposeful Empathy newsletter is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people from around the globe who believe the world needs more empathy - and are doing something about it. In October, I’m shining a spotlight on experts who have explored the role of empathy in the workplace and schools, as well as the transformative power of empathic listening to foster meaningful connections.

Shola Kaye is an introvert. In fact, early in her career, she spoke up so rarely during meetings, that her first boss put her on professional probation.?

Today, however, she’s an international speaker - about communication, no less - who is passionate about courageous conversations, empathy, psychological safety, and belonging in the workplace.

In 2018, Shola delivered a powerful TEDx, Why we need more empathy in the workplace, and?described why employees perform best when they feel safe, valued, seen, and understood. This reminded me of an important HBR article, The Costs of Code-Switching.?

In my podcast conversation with Shola, she elaborated on the need for empathic communication at work, especially in terms of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). Not only is it beneficial for employees, but according to research by Deloitte, EDI efforts can also raise employee performance by 17%.

She also provided practical strategies for “calling in,” which invites open and respectful dialogue, as opposed to “calling out.” For more information about the difference, watch Loretta J. Ross’ excellent TEDx, Don't call people out -- call them in.

Shola is also the author of two books aimed at helping readers become more confident communicators and public speakers.?

How to be a DIVA at Public Speaking: The Step-by-Step System to Engage Your Audience and Present with Confidence, unpacks the acronym “DIVA,” which stands for Dynamic, Inspiring, Valuable, and Authentic.??

Big Talk, Small Talk (and Everything in Between): Effective Communication Skills for All Parts of Your Life, offers practical strategies for everyday interactions with friends, family, colleagues, acquaintances, and even strangers.

Shola’s ultimate goal is to create workplaces where everyone feels heard, seen, and understood, such that “every single worker can’t wait to get to work!”

I wish Shola much success with that goal.

Want to learn more about empathy? Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organizational, and Social Change.

Watch my Purposeful Empathy interview with Shola Kaye on YouTube here or listen to it as a podcast on your favourite platform (Spotify or Apple Podcasts).