M.E. Hart: How to Bridge Divisions by Embracing Our Common Humanity

The Empathy Edge

Can we come together? You may ask yourself this within your team, organization – or perhaps in your community at large. We’ve had so many tough, but necessary, conversations this year about diversity, racial equity, social justice – but some folks still may believe these issues don’t impact their daily lives. In my conversation with Hart today, he shares why we’re all impacted by the social construct of race, how empathy can be a bridge to finding our common humanity, and why empathy is core to social and emotional intelligence if you want to truly be a great leader.

Key Takeaways:

• In order for us to be able to meet each other and to be able to talk about race, we need to meet on the human level first.
• As a leader and an organization, you set the expectations with the statements you make. There needs to be responsibility and accountability behind every social statement.
• If people feel respected, valued, and trusted, then your employees will be loyal to you and they will bring their friends along. But you must show that you care.

“We have to get to the point where we can talk about the social construct of race as it affects our individual lives day to day, but from a human perspective. It is possible – I’ve seen it and I’ve worked with groups of people where it does happen.” — M.E. Hart

About M.E. Hart, JD

Attorney, DE&I Strategist, Master Facilitator, and Executive Leadership Coach.

M.E. Hart (who goes by Hart), JD brings a unique blend of training experiences – and expertise as an attorney, professional actor, and certified executive coach – to the design and delivery of highly effective learning solutions in the corporate, government, and not-for-profit sectors. Hart balances “life experience” with cutting edge research to teach critical communications, management, and leadership skills that are unmatched in the adult-learning field.

His career has taken him into Fortune 500 companies across the US and to interesting parts of the world. Hart has helped bridge cultural differences in Moscow and Ukraine; worked with global industry leaders in Belgium; conducted “emergency interventions” for organizations in crisis; produced interactive satellite and videoconference training for members of the federal judiciary; produced award-winning educational broadcast television programming; provided one-on-one executive coaching in the technology, finance, energy, and telecommunications sectors; and led interactive learning events on diversity, feedback & coaching, conflict management, and many other topics.

Hart received his BA in Russian Language and Literature and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. He also completed the Senior Executive Leadership Certificate Program at Georgetown University. Hart is certified in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Emotional Competency Inventory and has consulted using many other organizational assessment tools. He is committed to working with organizations to create inclusive, creative, and innovative cultures that empower people to accomplish their desired business goals while living their values.

Connect with Hart:

Hart Learning Group website: HartLG.com

Twitter: twitter.com/corporatepoet

Poetry: hartofapoet.com

Thriver’s Quest Book: amazon.com/Thrivers-Quest-M-Hart/dp/1618460552

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