In this week’s episode of ICommunicate, Joe Lyman joins Mark to discuss how to use empathy as a tool for influence and to neutralize negativity. Segment 1: We’ve all been through our fair share of stress and hardships even before covid showed up. How can internal and external factors affect our mental health and how can we grow from our experiences? How can we improve our connection with other human beings even when the going gets tough?Segment 2:When we or someone we know is in a rough patch, connecting with someone and finding solutions to the problem may seem impossible. What can we do as leaders to support other people when they need it? Why is it important that we promote vulnerability, and how does that improve our ability to be empathetic?Segment 3: When a friend is feeling down, we usually feel the desire to try and find solutions even when we are so disconnected from the problem that there’s nothing we can really do. In these situations, how can we offer support? What’s the difference between empathy and compassion and how can we apply them in our day to day lives?Segment 4: When people aren’t meeting our expectations, it may be tempting to react before understanding their side of the story. How can we use empathy to neutralize negativity, and how will that impact our ability to connect with people moving forward?