Tag: empathy

Changing mind

Fabrizio1 Comment

The effort we put in trying to explain we did not change our mind is puzzling.

You misunderstood.

They misunderstood.

You started executing without asking more questions first.

You should have challenged me on that.

The circumstances have changed.

The keyboard has eaten most of my words.

There was a lot of noise when we talked about this.

You assumed you knew, and you didn’t.

I wish you’d listen when I talk.

Changing mind is not the end of the world. Not being sure about what to do, and how to do it, and who should do it, is not the end of the world.

Spoiling a relationship to prove you are right. That is the end of the world.

The truth

FabrizioLeave a comment

The Stanford Prison Experiment is an extremely popular experiment in social psychology. It featured normal people taking on the role of prisoners and guards. And most importantly, it featured fights, abuse, dehumanization, nervous breakdowns, bullying, and more. Despite a series of dubious practices, for decades it was considered a legitimate study.

The BBC Prison Study is a not-quite-as-popular experiment in social psychology. It featured normal people taking on the role of prisoners and guards. And most importantly, it featured camaraderie, compassion, some moderate conflict over food, negotiation, the institution of a commune, and long discussions on how to govern the whole group. Despite the fact it was reality TV, it led to a number of academic papers that were eventually accepted in official psychology curricula.

The point is, not always the story that is closer to facts and reality is the most popular. A story just has to be repeated enough times to become plausible, and when that happens, it is very difficult to later convince people it was a hoax, and actually things work in a different way.

This is something we know.

And it is our responsibility as marketers, advertisers, communicators, and change-seekers, to use such power with great care.

You’ll never get it

FabrizioLeave a comment

If after 15 months of covid crisis your organization does not have a plan to promote virtual get-togethers with colleagues, it failed.

If the only meetings are work-related meetings, if the participants rarely are from outside your team, if 1-1s keep being cancelled and postponed – because, you know, managers are busy -, it failed.

If there are no conversations around mental health, well-being, separation between work and personal life. If it is not offering some sort of incentives for therapy. It failed.

If the only times the company and the teams meet, it is the managers doing the talking, and all the other employees listening, it failed.

If what gets rewarded is still achieving personal goals, if cooperation is not actively stimulated, if teams are just a way to build walls rather than a way to reach out and help, it failed.

Just because your numbers are cool, it does not mean your people are too.

If you have not understood this during the past 15 months, you’ll probably never get it.

Imperfect

Fabrizio1 Comment

You are probably not the strongest.

You are probably not the smartest.

You are probably not the most fearless.

You are probably not the nicest.

You are probably not the greatest.

You are probably not the most positive.

And yet you are here. With the responsibility to make something strong, smart, fearless, nice, great, positive happen.

Work with your limits and don’t let them hold you back.

The world needs you.

Imperfect.

For all the parties

FabrizioLeave a comment

Can you ask somebody to help you?

Can you put your ego aside and recognize that somebody else might have a perspective on a matter that would actually improve your own understanding?

Can you step on your fear and embarrassment and ask a simple question that might unlock tremendous progress?

Can you suspend your judgment and assumptions and open yourself to listening to what the other has to say?

Can you accept that somebody would care as much as you do?

Help is the most precious thing there is, for all the parties involved.

We do not leverage that enough in business and organizations.