Feelings of anxiety, loneliness and burnout are reaching record-high numbers among leaders and CEOs. According to Businessolver’s 2024 State of Workplace Empathy report, 55% of CEOs have experienced a mental health issue. This is up 24 points from previous reports. On today’s Leadership Foundry Podcast, Rob Volpe returns to help us take a closer look at these numbers. We discuss the challenges leaders and CEOs face, the unique pressures placed on the C-suite and how we can effectively model empathy for our organizations while still maintaining the position of a capable, competent leader.
2:30 Meet Rob, the Empathy Activist.
4:00 What is empathy?
5:00 Businessolver’s 2024 State of Workplace Empathy report.
7:00 Fear and anxiety are the most contagious emotions in the workplace.
7:30 Rob shares potential triggers for the increase in anxiety, depression and feelings of loneliness among CEOs.
12:00 Hitting goals when the goalpost keeps moving.
13:00 Using empathy to solve the problem.
15:00 The human side of the CEO (vulnerability).
16:00 The importance of connection.
17:00 Taking care of yourself as a CEO.
21:00 “You can’t put your stress on your people. They’re not going to know what to do with it; they’re not the CEO.” Rob and Brandon discuss the right amount of vulnerability for leaders.
25:00 Past tense vulnerability.
31:00 Rob’s Leadership Hack: Take courage, lean in and show empathy.
Show Resources:
- Check out Rob’s award-winning book, “Tell Me More About That“.
- If you enjoyed this episode, listen to Rob’s first interview with Brandon here.
- Never miss an episode – subscribe to The Leadership Foundry Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Google Play.
