Human-Centric Leadership Podcast

Episode 6: People-Pleasing, Self-Deception & Empathy

May 04, 2023 Michelle Nicole Martin Episode 6
Human-Centric Leadership Podcast
Episode 6: People-Pleasing, Self-Deception & Empathy
Show Notes

As a dedicated and hardworking employee, you’re committed to the company’s mission and always strive to add value. As a team player, you understand the importance of working together to achieve success, but despite your positive energy and optimism, you can sense that something is off. Although everyone appears to share the same values, you notice discrepancies between their words and actions. Sound familiar? Once you begin to unravel their coded language, artificial harmony, and passive-aggressive behaviour, you might realize that your team is not playing the same game. What now? In today’s episode, we dive into the world of working in dysfunctional teams and how to stop yourself from people-pleasing and self-deception tendencies while still practicing empathy in an empowering way. While this might seem like a big hill to climb and it's easy to feel overwhelmed, if you recognize that your team needs to change and you have the will to take on the challenge, you’re already halfway there! To learn how to get unstuck, relieve frustration, cultivate thought processes that encourage action, lead empathetically without abandoning yourself, and keep your sanity along the way, be sure to tune in today!


Key Points From This Episode:

  • Signs and symptoms of dysfunctional teams.
  • How to tell the difference between flexibility and people-pleasing behaviour.
  • Three questions to ask yourself to determine if you're engaging in people-pleasing.
  • Defining self-deception and some examples you might be familiar with.
  • Ways to lead and support empathetically without abandoning yourself.
  • Why you need to identify and focus on your top priority.
  • The value of beginning with the end in mind: what does success look like?
  • How asking yourself these questions can help you stop self-deception.
  • What happens when you allow yourself to be a victim of your environment.
  • Why dysfunctional teams make it difficult for you to be empathetic.
  • A puzzle analogy that illustrates why we should exercise empathy.
  • Some of the tough conversations that come with being transparent and trustworthy.
  • Why empathy isn’t necessarily self-sacrificing.
  • The value of taking inventory, identifying behaviour patterns, and setting intentions.
  • Important reasons to humanize others and find ways to connect.


Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Manage Your Mind (Part 1)

Manage Your Mind (Part 2)

Leadership Intensive Program

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