Maria Ross's The Empathy Dilemma is a refreshing and practical guide for leaders who want to make empathy more than just a buzzword. By focusing on self-awareness, self-care, clarity, decisiveness, and joy, Ross provides a holistic approach to empathetic leadership that is both inspiring and achievable.” —Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Drive, When, and The Power of Regret
“In The Empathy Dilemma, Maria Ross equips those of us managing workplace stress and burnout with the tools to develop an empathy practice that emphasizes much-needed self-care. Her Five Pillars of Effective Empathetic Leadership provide an invaluable framework for anyone wanting to cultivate a more empathetic and engaged culture without sacrificing high performance, clearly addressing the challenges of the post-COVID workplace.” —Terri Givens, Professor at McGill University and author of Radical Empathy
“If you've made the mistake, like I have, of mixing up 'empathy' and 'being a pushover,' this book will save you. It will guide you on how to care and have boundaries, how to encourage and be a decisive leader.” —Michael Bungay Stanier, Bestselling author of The Coaching Habit
“A vital, timely examination of modern workplace (dys)function, with real-world recipes for getting and keeping your team on track. Should be required reading for every manager.” —Jay Baer, Founder of Convince & Convert and author of The Time to Win
“Empathy is a crucial skill for today's leaders. Command-and-control leadership is outdated, short-sighted, and unsustainable. Maria Ross smashes the perception that empathy and high performance cannot coexist. She shows you how to balance empathy and accountability to foster engaged, collaborative teams that deliver long-term results.” —Dorie Clark, Wall Street Journal-bestselling author of The Long Game and executive education faculty at Columbia Business School
“Packed with actionable insights and relatable stories, The Empathy Dilemma bridges the gap between leading with empathy and delivering results. Maria Ross busts common myths about empathy and offers a compelling road map for effective empathetic leadership that anyone can follow. This book is an essential guide for any leader who wants to build a thriving, connected, and high-performing organization in this new era of leadership.” —Rich Hua, Worldwide head of EPIC Leadership and founder of EQ@Amazon
“Leadership is finally waking up to our role as motivators and mentors. When our people thrive, so do our businesses. Our people come to work from different generations, ethnicities, and abilities. The Empathy Dilemma sets leaders up to successfully support all those needs and perspectives while delivering results—and without sacrificing their own mental health.” —Chip Conley, New York Times-bestselling author and founder of MEA, Modern Elder Academy
“Every leader should STOP and READ The Empathy Dilemma. It's the road map for how human-centered leadership should be done in today's fast-moving world.” —Ramon Ray, Publisher of ZoneofGenius.com
“Maria Ross gets us over the hurdle of inertia to a place of action. The Empathy Dilemma unpacks the barriers to empathy in the workplace and delivers a clear framework for how to move forward as leaders and as humans.” —Rob Volpe, Empathy Activist and author of Tell Me More About That
“In The Empathy Dilemma, Maria Ross masterfully addresses the delicate balance leaders must strike between business needs and the well-being of their employees. Her personal journey, combined with extensive research and real-world examples, brings the Five Pillars of Effective Empathetic Leadership to life. A thought-provoking and insightful read for any leader looking to build a thriving, empathetic, and successful workplace culture.” —Denise Brousseau, Keynote speaker and bestselling author of Ready to Be a Thought Leader?
“Maria Ross has laid out one of the great challenges of our times for leadership: how and when to use empathy without losing the plot. As much as we might want a purpose-led business with empathetic leadership, businesses that aren't profitable serve no purpose. As Ross explains, empathy is not about being weak and meek, or having always-on compassion. In The Empathy Dilemma, Ross nails it as she shows why and how leaders need to embrace empathy and ambition.” —Minter Dial, Award-winning author of Heartificial Empathy and You Lead
“Empathy in business is needed more than ever in today's challenging world, and Maria Ross provides the necessary playbook that every leader must read.” —Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO and McPherson Strategies and author of The Lost Art of Connecting
“Leaders who believe that empathy sounds great in theory but won't make a dent for high-performance companies need to read The Empathy Dilemma. Likewise, ambitious employees who haven't integrated self-care practices—or joy!—into their professional lives have a lot to learn from Maria Ross. This book offers a road map for forward-thinking leaders who want to bring more humanity into the workplace.” —Anita Nowak, Author of Purposeful Empathy and on faculty with the McGill Executive Institute
“In The Empathy Dilemma, Maria Ross offers a compelling invitation and a clear road map to embrace empathy as a strength without sacrificing accountability. An essential book for today's leaders as they navigate the challenges of the twenty-first-century workplace.” —Minette Norman, Author of The Boldly Inclusive Leader
“In an age of 'quiet quitting,' empathy is more than a nice-to-have. Empathy expert Maria Ross shows us how to make our employees feel seen and valued as we build a joyful, successful culture.” —Marty Neumeier, Cofounder of Level C and author of The Brand Gap and Metaskills
“The twenty-first century demands a new kind of leader. A leader focused on connection and collaboration, not command and control, in order to deliver exponential growth. The Empathy Dilemma is a must-read for those who falsely believe that leaders have to choose between people and performance. They absolutely do not. And Maria Ross shows you how it's possible.” —Erica Dhawan, Author of Digital Body Language
