Empathy is a powerful tool for founders, leaders, coaches, and employees. And during the month of June, it’s a powerful trait to embrace as founders and business leaders.

June is Pride Month, an entire month dedicated to the uplifting of LGBTQ+ voices, a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture, and the support of LGBTQ rights. Even though the ACLU reports there are currently 491 pieces of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being floated around the U.S., there is still much to celebrate.

June 19^th is a federal holiday marked as Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of the end of slavery in the U.S. The holiday is also called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day” and is a time to center black stories and voices and celebrate the Black community.

Empathy helps to build stronger relationships with those around you, resulting in greater loyalty and trust. By showing that you care about the people you work with, people you employ or do business with feel valued and supported. This fosters a culture of innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity.

By putting yourself in the shoes of your customers, employees, teammates, and partners, you can better understand their needs and motivations, create better products and services, and solve real problems.

By putting people first, you create a strong foundation for your company's growth and impact. This leads to improved customer satisfaction, employee morale, and ultimately, increased profitability.

But what is radical empathy?

This is going beyond traditional notions of empathy and actively seeking to understand and connect with people who may have different experiences and perspectives than our own.

Here are the six steps to radical empathy:

1. Willingness to be vulnerable.
2. Being grounded in who you are.
3. Being open to the experiences of others.
4. Practicing empathy.
5. Taking action.
6. Creating change and building trust.

The power of radical empathy bridges the gaps between people and creates connections that might not have been possible otherwise. When we practice radical empathy, we see beyond our own experiences and biases and truly understand the experiences of others. This can lead to greater understanding, tolerance, and acceptance of diverse perspectives and ways of life.

During this month, support the queer community by seeking out LGBTQ+ founders to do business with or attend a Pride or Juneteenth event or gathering, explore the history and legacy of slavery, or understand the impact the anti-LGBT+ legislation will have on the people in our community.

To put radical empathy into practice, begin with these techniques:

• Practice empathy daily: Make a conscious effort to practice empathy in your daily interactions with others. This can include simple acts of kindness or taking the time to listen to someone who needs to talk.
• Practice active listening: Listen to others without interrupting or judging them. Pay attention to their body language and tone of voice to better understand their emotions.
• Ask open-ended questions: Instead of asking yes or no questions, ask questions that encourage others to share their thoughts and feelings. This shows that you are interested in understanding them.
• Be present and in the moment: Avoid distractions and focus entirely on the person you are speaking with. This helps to build trust and establish a deeper connection.
• Acknowledge your biases: Recognize your own biases and how they may influence your perceptions. Try to see things from the other person's perspective.
• Take action: Once you have gained a deeper understanding of someone else's experiences, take action to support them. This can include advocating for their needs or simply being there for them when they need support.

Practicing radical empathy can be challenging because it requires us to confront our own biases and prejudices, and to be vulnerable and open to the experiences of others. But the rewards of this practice are immense. By cultivating radical empathy, you will create a more compassionate and inclusive culture and community.

Encouraging a diverse range of perspectives and experiences will have a transformative impact on you as a leader as well as on your company.