AFP Atlanta Chapter

A quick video of thanks and cheerleading! Keep practicing empathy. Thank you AFP Atlanta.

Thank you!

We sprinted through the Empathy Decathlon in such a brief and hopefully impactful session. Your ability to staying focused, being present, and actively engaging in the me-empathy and we-empathy practices gave me energy, YAY! Let’s keep going. I am eager to spend more time with each of you and your respective organizations to further develop the me-empathy and we-empathy foundations we've just established.

A heartfelt thank you to Amanda Rubin, Empathy Lab's dynamic hype human, Jennifer Williford for inviting me to this journey, and Aubryn Shivers for assisting me in coordinating with AFP.

So, what comes next?

  • More Empathy Lab: Invite Empathy Lab to your space, or let us assist you in finding the perfect empathy coach tailored for your needs. Contact me at shelton@empathylab.io to continue our empathetic journey.

  • Review: Take a moment to scroll down and revisit what we've covered.

  • Additional Lab Resources: Explore the resources listed below for more interactive and hands-on empathy exercises.

Continue to nurture empathy! I firmly believe that empathy is the cornerstone of your I.D.E.A. mission at AFP!

With energy,

Shelton + The Empathy Lab Team

shelton@empathylab.io

Empathy Focused Talks

  • ✅ Empathy 101 🎉

  • Slow Down to Speed Up: Mastering the Art of the Empathetic Pause

  • Team Creativity: Enhancing Connections through Collaborative Sketching

  • Empathy-Driven Innovation: Catalyzing Internal Change Before External Solutions

  • Pre-DEI: Cultivating Empathetic Grounds for Diversity and Inclusion

  • Custom: Tailored Talks for Specific Needs and Timely Topics

Description of the above Sprint Team Talks here.

Your Workshop Resources

Empathy 101

Lab Practice PDFs

Additional Resources

To the right is a shared Miro board that with additional resources found by the Empathy Lab team. When we find new things, we will drop them here.

If you would rather visit a link to this board, go here.

Scenario Examples utilizing the Empathy Decathlon Framework

Here are a some common workplace scenarios where you can utilize the Empathy Decathlon framework. If you’ve got a new scenario that you’d like us to work out with you, please share it with us.

New Donor Relationship

  • Energy: Understand the new client's energy and enthusiasm towards their mission, aligning it with the services offered and how the manager balances the relationship’s energy.

  • Baggage: Understand the new client’s baggage and missed attempts in previous campaigns so that these areas can be better understood and addressed as needed. Understanding their Baggage will improve collaboration and transparency.

  • Self-Awareness & Inventory: Reflect on how your company’s expertise and resources can best serve the new client's unique needs. What can “we” do for them?

  • Hearing: Listen attentively to the client's goals and concerns, absorbing more than just the surface-level information.

  • Asking & Responding: Engage in open-ended questions and neutral responses to gain deeper insights into the client's expectations.

Ending Donor Relationship

  • Energy, Baggage & Meaning: Interpret the experiences and outcomes of the engagement to understand its impact on both the client and the company. Examine sources of Energy and Baggage from teammates and the client if possible. 

  • Feedback: Offer constructive feedback on what went well and potential areas for improvement in future collaborations.

  • Lead: Ensure the ending process fosters a positive, growth-oriented environment, leaving the client feeling valued and respected.

360 Formal Performance Reviews

  • Feedback: Utilize these sessions to share focused interpretations and suggestions for personal and professional development.

  • Responding & Hearing: Create a safe space for honest and open communication, where feedback is received and processed effectively. Share personal Energy and Baggage 

New Employee Orientation + Onboarding

  • Inventory & Self-Awareness: Help new employees understand the company's culture and their role within it.

  • Energy & Lead: Foster an environment of enthusiasm and safety, encouraging new hires to engage and contribute from the outset. Guide them through the Empathy Decathlon framework as a way to be authentic and engage with the bigger team with curiosity. 

Team Meeting Opening

  • Hearing & Asking: Start meetings by attentively listening to team members' updates and concerns, encouraging open communication.

  • Lead, Energy & Baggage: Gauge and uplift the team's energy level, setting a positive tone for the meeting. In order to decrease toxic positivity, allow for real life Baggage to be shared as needed. 

Team Meeting Closing

  • Meaning Making & Feedback/Feedforward: Summarize key takeaways and action points, ensuring clarity and direction for future tasks.

  • Lead: Reinforce a sense of communal progress and shared objectives. Restate Meaning that was made and how Feedback/Feedforward will be implemented in a way that all team members can feel productive. 

Implementation of New Strategy

  • Inventory & Self-Awareness: Reflect on the company's strengths and areas of growth (Baggage) to align with the new strategy effectively.

  • Responding, Asking, & Feedback/Feedforward: Engage in constructive dialogues to understand team perspectives and to refine the strategy collaboratively.