Empathy and Connection for Start-ups: an interview with Selfless.ly
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Zach Rodenbarger (left) and Joshua Driver (right), co-founders of Selfless.ly
How can you build empathy into your start-up? Josh Driver and Zach Rodenbarger from Selfless.ly share how they sustained connection and built their company during the dual pressures of start-up life and a bruising global pandemic.
You will hear about the importance of taking a walk, how “hangry” can get in the way of communication, and why Nerf guns could be a good idea for your office culture.
You can find the Handle with Care: Empathy at Work podcast on Google Play, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify
Here are three key takeaways from my conversation with Josh and Zach…
Fun matters. From Nerf guns to dilly bar deliveries, introducing a little bit of levity, especially in tense and freighted situations, can be a game changer. Where can you build some fun and some laughter into your office life?
There is power in taking a break and thinking the best of the other person. You heard these two threads throughout the interview: in offering a break or a walk to the other person, hoping and trusting that their moment of overwhelm is not their truest or best self. This attention to the emotional temperature of a given situation is so important. And I use it often in both my personal and professional interactions.
One way that people can move through their own disruption and overwhelm is by giving back to others. The act of moving beyond the constraints of your own situation, doing something positive for someone else, has all sorts of positive effects on the health of individuals and organizations. If what you have heard today piques your interest, I encourage you to look up the good work that is going on at Sefless.ly. More information about Zach, Josh, and the company can be found below.