Comfy Chairs

Author: onetwentythree ltd

With a focus on leadership skills and practices like emotional intelligence, adaptability, and authenticity, the comfy chairs podcast features in-depth conversations with experts and thought leaders who share personal stories and professional insights, helping listeners navigate the challenges of modern leadership.In addition to exploring how leaders can build trust, connection, and resilience within their teams, Kate and her guests tackle the importance of career ownership and the power of storytelling in shaping personal and professional identities. Listeners are regularly invited to examine the intersection of personal growth and leadership.Whether youre a manager, coach, or leadership enthusiast, the comfy chairs offers valuable insights into how leaders can create authentic, emotionally intelligent workplaces that empower people to thrive.New in 2025! Comfy chairs, hard questions - comfy HQGot something on your mind? A tricky situation at work? A leadership topic youre curious about? Share your questions here: https://www.one23ltd.com/comfyhq
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Management

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Empathy Is the Effort to Understand
Episode 5
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026

This episode introduces empathy as a core leadership competency and the second essential practice for demonstrating care. Building on the foundation of vulnerability, these Notes on Leading Well explain what empathy is, how it works in the human brain, and why leaders who practice empathy are better equipped to build trust, communicate clearly, and lead people through change. Listeners will gain a practical understanding of affective and cognitive empathy and how intentional perspective-taking improves employee well-being and organizational effectiveness. Additional resources to explore: PBS Learning Media: Mirror Neurons Mirror Neurons and the Neuroscience of Empathy The neurons that shaped civilization | VS Ramachandran Empathy Definition | What Is Empathy Does Your Manager Feel Your Pain? Empathy Quiz | Greater Good Key takeaways Empathy is the effort to understand others Vulnerability creates the conditions for empathy Empathy is a leadership competency, not a trait Affective empathy is feeling with others Cognitive empathy is perspective-taking Empathy is rooted in human biology Empathy strengthens trust at work Perspective-taking improves leadership decisions Empathy supports well-being and performance Empathy becomes care when put into action Timestamps [0:00:00] – Introduction to the Well Led Podcast & leadership premise [0:00:35] – Recap: Vulnerability as a leadership competency [0:01:27] – Vulnerability as relational and needing sustainability [0:02:45] – Transition to second competency: Empathy [0:03:39] – Working definition of empathy + two forms (affective & cognitive) [0:04:22] – Affective empathy: “feelings about others’ feelings” [0:05:20] – Cognitive empathy: perspective-taking & To Kill a Mockingbird example [0:06:34] – Mirror neurons and the biology of empathy [0:08:35] – What empathy does at work & impact on trust and change [0:10:25] – Practicing empathy: observation exercise in a public space Keywords empathy in leadership leading with empathy empathy at work leadership competencies demonstrating care vulnerability and empathy perspective taking leadership human centered leadership employee well-being psychological safety