Tell Me More About That: Solving the Empathy Crisis One Conversation at a Time

by Rob Volpe

Overview

I"A good primer for anyone who wants to increase their empathy skills."
—QRCA

t’s time to shape up your empathy muscle.

Empathy is in short supply these days—and it’s hurting us. From the rise in workplace bullying to increased anxiety and depression, a lack of empathy for one another is wearing away at the gears of society, grinding us down to the nubs. The very technology that is supposed to keep us connected is actually driving us apart, with face-to-face interactions on the decline, and news filtered through an echo chamber that shelters us from other points of view.

But all is not lost. Just as physical workouts strengthen your body, there are ways to build up your empathy as well. In Tell Me More About That, brand strategist and thought leader Rob Volpe draws on his years conducting thousands of in-home interviews with everyday people to illustrate the 5 Steps to Empathy—the actions you can take to build a strong and reflexive empathy muscle.

Through humorous and moving accounts of interactions with folks from every walk of life, Volpe recounts how, what often began in a stranger’s house as a talk about brands and daily habits, could blossom at any minute into a conversation about family, relationships, hopes, and dreams. Though he may have been invited into these homes as a marketing researcher, he left them as an expert on empathy.

And along the way, discovered that there exists a set of common values connecting us all. Strip away the exterior wrapping of blue state/red state, straight or gay, black or white, and we’re all far more similar than we are different. With empathy, we can all learn and understand more than we ever imagined possible. Let the training begin.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774580899
Publisher:	Page Two Books, Inc.
Publication date:	02/22/2022
Pages:	336
Sales rank:	639,822
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 6.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Rob Volpe is an astute observer of life and a master storyteller who brings empathy and compassion to the human experience. As CEO of Ignite 360, he leads a team of insights, strategy, and creative professionals serving the world’s leading brands across a range of industries.

As a thought leader in the role of empathy in marketing and the workplace, Rob frequently speaks on the topic at conferences, corporations, and college classes. He is a graduate of Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and lives in San Francisco with his husband and three cats.

Table of Contents

Introduction 1

Part 1 When Empathy Eludes Us

1 It's Like Christmas Morning 11

2 The Hazards of the Job 29

3 Turning Perspective Around 47

Part 2 Following the 5 Steps to Empathy

4 Defining the 5 Steps to Empathy 59

Step 1 Dismantle Judgment 62

5 The Moldy Pancake 63

6 Crawling Away 79

7 Mother Would Never Do That 93

8 Fear 113

Step 2 Ask Good Questions 133

9 Peeling the Onion 135

10 Let's Talk About Sex 153

Step 3 Active Listening 171

11 Mirror, Mirror… 173

12 The Birth of Venus 183

13 The Ghost in the Room 199

Step 4 Integrate into Understanding 215

14 Altering Perceptions 217

15 The Language of Home 237

Step 5 Use Solution Imagination 249

16 What Are You Willing to Sacrifice? 251

17 Leave Your Boots at the Door 269

18 The Trappings of Success 289

Part 3 Embracing Empathy in Everyday Life

19 A Work in Progress 307

Acknowledgments 315

Glossary of Terms 319

Editorial Reviews

In Tell Me More About That, Rob Volpe illuminates not just the why, but the how, of empathy. With clarity, honesty, and deep insight, Rob shows how every interaction offers us the opportunity to build more connection and understanding—and ultimately a better world for us all.” —Rishad Tobaccowala, author of Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in the Age of Data

“Tell Me More About That is a must-read for anyone who cares about how we live and lead into the future. Rob Volpe has poured his wisdom, heart, vulnerability, and experience walking in other people’s shoes into this thoughtful, funny, informative book. There’s no one better to be our guide for seeing more of ourselves in others and why we should do it than Rob and his empathy superpower.” —Andrew Blotky, founder and CEO, Azure Leadership Group; author of Honestly Speaking: How the Way We Communicate Transforms Leadership, Love, and Life

“Empathy has become the new catchphrase of leadership. However, knowing what it really is and applying it to become a spectacular leader that your talent becomes deeply connected to is rare. Rob Volpe is a master and his ‘5 Steps to Empathy’ brilliantly lay out exactly how to do just that. This book is a must-read-and-apply for you to lead in the new world of business!” —Dov Baron, The World’s Leading Meaning Authority, bestselling author, Top 30 Global Leadership Guru, and host of the Leadership and Loyalty podcast; DovBaron.com

“In a world dominated by digital technology, the success of a brand, venture, or leader isn’t determined by the quality of their product or the efficiency of their operations. To truly succeed and stand out from the crowd, you need to understand and respond to the needs, wants, and desires of your customers, employees, and colleagues. You need empathy. Rob Volpe’s Tell Me More About That guides the way” —Mark Achler, managing director, MATH Venture Partners; entrepreneurship and innovation lecturer, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management

“In Tell Me More About That, marketing researcher Rob Volpe takes readers on an entertaining journey through his experiences interviewing and talking to consumers. While the stories are by turns compelling, moving and at times laugh-out-loud funny, his aim is decidedly not to sensationalize or poke fun but rather to use the examples to show how much each has taught him about the value of empathy and effective interviewing. Like any good storyteller he has an eye for detail and a deft sense of pacing that makes the reader anxiously await what’s next. But the book is so much more than just a collection of interesting anecdotes from the research trenches. Especially in these fractious times, when grace and patience for differing viewpoints are in short supply, it’s more important than ever to be able to see things from another’s perspective and Volpe offers solid, sensible guidance for how to do that.” —Joe Rydholm, Quirk's Editor

From the Publisher