Mastering Empathy in Business: An Interview with Michele Hansen

In this episode of Present Influence, host John Ball interviews Michele Hansen, author of 'Deploy Empathy.'

Michele discusses her journey from the technical side of business to understanding and mastering empathy.

The episode covers how empathy can be a learned skill crucial for business success, even in technical fields like software development.

Michele shares her insights on applying empathy in product management, marketing, and sales, emphasizing the importance of understanding people's contexts.

The conversation explores the unexpected benefits of empathy in building trust and deepening relationships, as well as Michele's experiences and strategies for successful podcasting.

Listeners are encouraged to consider how they can apply empathy in their own professional and personal lives.

00:00 Introduction: The Importance of Empathy in Business

00:17 Meet Michelle Hansen: From Technical Background to Empathy Advocate

02:57 The Journey to Entrepreneurship and Writing a Book

06:01 Understanding Empathy: Michelle's Insights

08:40 Applying Empathy in Business and Beyond

18:29 The Role of Podcasting in Promoting Empathy

26:56 Practical Tips for Developing Empathy

40:57 Conclusion: Embracing Empathy in Professional Life

The Power of Detachment and Flow: Enhancing Influence and Inner Peace

In this episode of Present Influence, John explores the concepts of detachment, flow, and presence, and how they can help improve communication and inner peace.

He discusses the challenges of seeking approval and the paradoxical effect of trying too hard, illustrating the importance of letting go of specific outcomes.

John shares personal experiences and lessons from studying Bujinkan Ninjutsu, emphasizing the value of maintaining flow over force.

The episode also touches on the psychological need for belonging and the negative impacts of exclusion. Listeners are encouraged to find balance between being active participants in life and maintaining a detached, observant perspective.

keywords

trying too hard, making a good impression, pushing people away, neediness, fear of exclusion, tolerating mistreatment, detachment, presentness, inner peace, active participant, flow, setbacks

takeaways

• Trying too hard to be liked or impress others can have the opposite effect and push people away.
• Our need to belong and fear of being excluded can lead us to tolerate mistreatment and abuse.
• Relaxing and not being attached to outcomes can lead to better results and inner peace.
• Being an active participant in our own lives while also being able to switch between observer and actor is valuable.
• Getting back in flow after setbacks is important for maintaining a positive mindset and moving forward.
• Being present is key to influence and life, allowing us to fully engage and connect with others.

titles

• The Power of Being Present
• The Pitfalls of Trying Too Hard

Sound Bites

• "Why do we try so hard?"
• "Our need to belong is strong."
• "When emotions go high, intelligence goes low."

00:00 Introduction to Detachment and Presence

00:59 The Struggle for Acceptance

02:20 The Impact of Social Exclusion

04:01 Understanding Neediness and High Stakes

04:58 Embracing Flow and Letting Go

05:27 The Philosophy of Flow in Martial Arts

07:33 The Paradox of Attachment and Inner Peace

08:14 Practical Steps to Detachment

09:23 Conclusion and Upcoming Episodes

Mastering Influence: Sales Training Lessons for Business Leaders

In this episode of 'Present Influence,' host John Ball shares valuable lessons from his sales training experience and how they enhanced his influence, communication, and coaching abilities.

Through personal anecdotes and actionable tips, John discusses the importance of overcoming resistance, being prepared, balancing rapport, showing genuine care, managing emotional states, and avoiding assumptions in sales and leadership communication.

This episode aims to help business leaders and aspiring leaders maximize their impact and present with confidence.

Tune in for weekly episodes and expert insights to elevate your influence and inspire others.

00:00 Introduction: Can Sales Training Make You More Influential?

01:09 Overcoming the Fear of Sales Calls

01:46 My Journey into Sales and Key Lessons Learned

03:07 Top Eight Lessons from Sales Training

03:20 Lesson 1: Stop Thinking and Start Doing

05:54 Lesson 2: Go Unscripted

08:43 Lesson 3: Finding and Labeling Pain Points

11:10 Lesson 4: The Dangers of Too Much Rapport

14:01 Lesson 5: Show That You Care

17:38 Lesson 6: Be Prepared

20:49 Lesson 7: Let Go of Assumptions

26:29 Lesson 8: Take Charge of Your Emotional State

30:55 Conclusion: Implementing Sales Training for Lasting Impact

33:22 Show Rebranding and Future Focus

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