Organizations have spent billions of dollars on diversity training yet failed to realize much return on their investment. Too often, it’s been a ‘one and done’ approach with little follow-up or reinforcement. If we’ve learned one thing over the last 40 years, it’s that while training is important, it is insufficient to create meaningful and lasting change by itself. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are not theoretical concepts that organizations can pay lip service to; the workplace is increasingly diverse — in generations, genders, and more — and employers who don’t value this diversity and foster an inclusive belonging workplace will fail to demonstrate empathy and lose in this competitive economic environment.
According to Businessolver’s fourth annual “State of Workplace Empathy Study,” leaders agree with their employees about the importance of workplace empathy but there is a gap between intentions and implementation. The study surveyed 1,850 U.S. employees, HR professionals and CEOs. 72% of those CEOs said workplace empathy needs to improve. Yet, while 92% of those CEOs said their organizations are empathetic, only 72% of the employees agreed.
There is no one program, no one benefit, and no one action that will create workplace empathy. It has to be a continual effort that draws together different levels within an organization, and that is valued by leadership as a signal to the rest of the organization that empathy matters. It must be cultivated over time through behaviors, such as emphasizing face-to-face communication and recognizing what different audiences need to do to show empathy to their colleagues. Empathy is an essential skill that encourages active listening, transparency, and provides an opportunity to demonstrate authenticity.
Mission:
We exist to build a Culture of Empathy for organizational Excellence. Our people-centered approach builds on organizational cultural strengths and makes people part of the solution.
Vision:
Through our equity and Social Change process (Purpose, Policy, Practice and Progress), Empathy 4 Equity will develop strategies in building a culture of empathy for organizations in connecting with their employees and communities.
Guiding principle:
Empathy 4 Equity nurtures an environment in which people are encouraged to bring their whole selves to the work of advancing empathy by having unconditional positive regard for one another.
- We believe that institutional and systemic transformation is possible when individuals are willing to build the willpower, passion and consciousness to change the status quo.
- We believe advancing equity and empathy occurs across all sectors of life amongst.
- We believe that creating culture of empathy is essential and is the foundational value in the workplace and communities
- We believe through empathy lens equity is essential to closing disparities while providing opportunities to address intersectionality.
- We believe each of us represents a complex mix of lived experiences, spiritual traditions, social identity and cultural backgrounds.
- We believe working together unlocks greater potential than we can achieve on our own.
Values:
we are committed to partnering with our clients in aligning with our values.
