In our final episode of Season 2 of Empathy Power Up, we do a retrospective of the season behind us, what we learned in the process, and our hope for the future. We begin by wondering what makes a 21st century workplace and the workers within it, and untangle this question through the lens of a new framework that describes the common thread among more than 200 research studies on the topic.

Over the course of the season, your hosts Kevin and Amy went deeper into this framework, called the Framework for Mental Health & Well-Being launched by the US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s office in October 2022. In it, they outline five essential components for workplace well-being: protection from harm, connection & community, work-life harmony, mattering at work, and opportunity for growth. Each episode along the journey addresses two fundamental human needs and highlights areas where workplaces can improve to support employee well-being, and what we can do to support our own learning & growth.

At the end of the episode you’ll hear updates and announcements from Kevin and Amy on what they’re working on now and their thoughts for the next season of the Empathy Power Up Podcast.

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Amy J. Wilson designs worlds where every person gets what they need, the power to achieve what they want, and the agency to do what they love. She is the bestselling author of Empathy for Change: How to Build a More Understanding World: https://www.amazon.com/Empathy-Change-Create-Understanding-World, a guide to create positive transformation where we work, live, and play. Grab a copy anywhere books are sold or the audiobook on Audible.

Kevin A.K.A Captain Empathy is the Founder and CEO of Jaago (means to wake-up in Hindi). Jaago’s vision is to create a world where people seek to understand one another by making empathy a daily habit. He is a tech leader and IOT (Internet of Things) pioneer and expert. He brings practical experience, lived experience, and his transparent growth journey to the podcast.

Follow:

• Amy at @realamyjwilson or Linktree: https://linktr.ee/empathyinaction
• Kevin at @shahkevin or https://linktr.ee/shahkevin

Yearning to learn and grow is central to who we are, yet there are many things in our life that block us from growing into a better version of ourselves. We are holding so many things: trying to be good at our jobs, within treasured relationships, and also taking care of ourselves in the process. There never seems to be enough time in the day.

When we get overwhelmed with life or our work situation, we stay in our comfort zone which is surrounded by fears that hold us back. But beyond those fears are the real nuggets of learning and eventual growth that we need to feel fulfilled.

This week we talk about the Opportunity for Growth, which is the fifth and final part of the US Surgeon General’s Framework for Mental Health and Wellbeing. This Essential rests on the human needs of learning and a sense of accomplishment. Learning is the process of acquiring new skills and knowledge in the workplace, and accomplishment is the outcome of meeting goals and having an impact.

We can develop horizontally, meaning we can expand to deepen our existing or new skills and knowledge, or vertically which means that we develop ourselves deeper into who we are and show up in the world. In this episode we’ll talk about the four zones that we need to manage in our everyday lives, how we can expand both outward and upward, and what our workplaces can do to support us in our own growth to reach new levels of accomplishment.

Reference Materials:

Cook-Greuter, Susanne R. (2004). “Making the case for developmental perspective.” Industrial and Commercial Training, 36 (7). http://www.verticaldevelopment.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/1.-Cook-Greuter-Making-the-case-for-a-developmental-perspective.pdf

Kegan, Robert (1998). “In Over Our Heads: The Mental Demands of Modern Life.” Harvard University Press.

https://www.amazon.com/Over-Our-Heads-Mental-Demands/dp/0674445880

Loevinger, Jane (1976). “Ego Development: Conceptions and Theories.” Joseey-Bass. , Jane Loevinger, 1976

(https://www.amazon.com/Ego-Development-Conceptions-Jossey-Bass-Behavioral/dp/0875892752)

Torbert, William (2004). “Action Inquiry: The Secret of Timely and Transforming Leadership.” Barrett-Koehler Publishers.

https://www.amazon.com/Action-Inquiry-Secret-Transforming-Leadership/dp/157675264X

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Amy J. Wilson designs worlds where every person gets what they need, the power to achieve what they want, and the agency to do what they love. She is the bestselling author of Empathy for Change: How to Build a More Understanding World: https://www.amazon.com/Empathy-Change-Create-Understanding-World, a guide to create positive transformation where we work, live, and play. Grab a copy anywhere books are sold or the audiobook on Audible.

Kevin A.K.A Captain Empathy is the Founder and CEO of Jaago (means to wake-up in Hindi). Jaago’s vision is to create a world where people seek to understand one another by making empathy a daily habit. He is a tech leader and IOT (Internet of Things) pioneer and expert. He brings practical experience, lived experience, and his transparent growth journey to the podcast.

Follow:

• Amy at...

What does it feel like to matter at work? This concept was a lot to wrap our minds around, as it doesn’t seem as straightforward like the other parts of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework on Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing—it’s a lot more abstract. When we matter at work, we feel valued and we also add value to our workplace. We can feel or give value to ourselves, others both at the workplace and in our communities we gather.

Mattering involves “more than feeling like you belong in a group, it's also being missed by people in that group if you weren’t there,” says Dr. Gordon Flett, a York University professor and author of “The Psychology of Mattering.” It turns out that you won’t be a happy person if no one notices you when you enter a room, even if you feel like you’re valued. You’ll likely feel left out and isolated, and can have serious consequences. A lack of mattering is associated with burnout, self-criticism, anxiety, depression, aggression and increased risk of suicide. On the other side, people who feel like they matter experience more self-compassion, relationship satisfaction, and greater belief in their capacity to achieve their goals in life.

This Framework Essential involves two human needs: meaning and dignity. Meaning is similar to having a purpose—that what we do has some kind of significance to us or the world. A sense of meaning can mean different things to different people: it can be a belief, feeling, a pursuit, significance, and a future state you’re working towards.

Dignity is the sense of being respected and valued as humans. Dr. Donna Hicks explains two core truths of dignity, which are 1) that we are inherently valuable and worthy and 2) our dignity is vulnerable, and can be wounded. When the dignity of workers is affirmed and supported in the workplace, it enhances well-being. Conversely, being made to feel disrespected or not valued may lead to an increase in stress and feelings of anger, cynicism, hostility, and withdrawal.

Both meaning and dignity are linked to power and agency, which we discuss more within this episode. Wrap your own mind around this complex topic, and learn how to find out if you are valued at work within this episode.

Reference Materials:

Cornwall, Gail. “Want to Believe in Yourself? ‘Mattering’ Is Key.” Retrieved on November 13, 2023 at: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/27/well/mind/mental-health-mattering-self-esteem.html

Hicks, Donna. Ph.D. Dignity: Its Essential Role in Resolving Conflict. 14 September 2021. https://drdonnahicks.com/books/dignity/

Just Associates, Making Change Happen, 2011, https://justassociates.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/mch3_2011_final_0.pdf

Prilleltensky, Isaac. Mattering at the Intersection of Psychology, Philosophy, and Politics. Retrieved on November 13, 2023 at: https://carsey.unh.edu/sites/default/files/media/2020/07/christine-robinson-nh-listens-fellows-cv.pdf

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Amy J. Wilson designs worlds where every person gets what they need, the power to achieve what they want, and the agency to do what they love. She is the bestselling author of Empathy for Change: How to Build a More Understanding World: