Leading with Fierce Compassion

Software may be built on machines, but it’s built by, with, and for human beings. Ignoring the human element is what leads to unethical companies, toxic conflicts on teams, and health problems like stress and burnout.

The solution is to put humans at the center of all that we do. While empathy is the ability to understand the feelings of others, compassion takes this a step further and adds the desire to alleviate suffering. At its core, technology is about alleviating suffering. We must learn to cultivate compassion for our customers, for our colleagues, for people displaced by technology, and ultimately, for ourselves.

Compassion does not make us weak. Compassion is rather a sign of incredible strength. It’s the fierce determination to minimize suffering in others and in ourselves.

This talk will show you that no matter what your job title, you have the power to lead real change and heal the tech industry with compassion.

Join us!
compassionatecoding.com

Presented at WeRISE 2017, Atlanta, Georgia

Transcript

1. LEADING WITH FIERCE COMPASSION April Wensel Founder of Compassionate Coding COMPASSIONATE C O D I N G @compassioncode #WeRiseTech
2. @compassioncode
3. @compassioncode CC image by John Morgan - https://flic.kr/p/4y85su
4. @compassioncode TOXIC TO EMPLOYEES
5. 87% of women experienced demeaning comments from male colleagues @compassioncode h"ps://www.elephan-nthevalley.com/
6. “UNFAIRNESS in the form of everyday behavior (stereotyping, harassment, microaggressions, etc.) is a very real and damaging part of the tech work environment, specifically affecting underrepresented groups” @compassioncode h"p://www.kaporcenter.org/tech-leavers/
7. “They’re not the happiest bunch. They’re all overworked and under pressure.” –Christina Grant, Ph.D., Vegan Gourmet Dinner Meetup, Palo Alto, August 29, 2016 @compassioncode
8. @compassioncode h"ps://www.wired.com/video/2017/06/techies- are-using-ketamine-to-fight-their-depression/
9. TOXIC TO USERS @compassioncode
10. Are You Lost In The World Like Me? Animation by Steve Cutts Music by Moby & The Void Pacific Choir https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VASywEuqFd8 @compassioncode
11. @compassioncode
12. TOXIC TO COMMUNITIES @compassioncode
13. h"p://www.businessinsider.com/photos-google-and-yahoo-bus-protest-2014-4
14. @compassioncode http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/ silicon-valley-has-an-empathy-vacuum http://onbeing.org/programs/anil-dash-techs- moral-reckoning/
15. @compassioncode
16. @compassioncode •  Domination •  Aggression •  Ambition •  Competition Raj Sisodia Foreword, Awakening Compassion at Work Monica Worline & Jane Dutton •  Short-term thinking •  Zero-sum view of the world Hypermasculine Values
17. @compassioncode
18. C O D I N G COMPASSIONATE @compassioncode
19. DISRUPT THE TECH INDUSTRY WITH COMPASSION @compassioncode
20. @compassioncode
21. Photo courtesy of #WOCInTechChat @compassioncode
22. YOU can lead this change @compassioncode
23. THE PLAN 1.  WHAT is compassion? 2.  WHY is it important? 3.  HOW can you use it? @compassioncode
24. COMPASSION @compassioncode
25. @aprilwensel h"ps://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/ fileexchange/21239--ps---tricks--geGng- started-using-op-miza-on-with-matlab @compassioncode
26. @compassioncode
27. LOOK UPON SUFFERING @compassioncode
28. “Compassion involves risk and makes us vulnerable.” @compassioncode –Karen Armstrong 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life
29. RESIST THE STATUS QUO @compassioncode
30. RADICAL CANDOR @compassioncode
31. WHY @compassioncode
32. MORE EFFECTIVE TEAMS @compassioncode
33. Compassionate business units “exhibited BETTER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE… and these units realized HIGHER EMPLOYEE AND CUSTOMER RETENTION” @compassioncode Awakening Compassion at Work Monica Worline & Jane Dutton
34. MORE CREATIVITY @compassioncode
35. “When our brains are opened by POSITIVE EMOTIONS like JOY, we can BETTER SEE CONNECTIONS and more options TO SOLVE WORK PROBLEMS.” –Shawn Murphy, The Optimistic Workplace @compassioncode
36. DEVELOP RESILIENCE @compassioncode
37. HOW @compassioncode
38. SLOOOOW DOWN @compassioncode
39. @compassioncode
40. ”We are so BUSY BEING BUSY that we don’t take the time to reflect on and ask the questions that can reshape our lives.” –Larry & Hersch Wilson, Play to Win @compassioncode
41. MINDFULNESS @compassioncode
42. NOTICE SUFFERING @compassioncode
43. INVESTIGATE @compassioncode
44. TAKE ACTION TO ALLEVIATE SUFFERING @compassioncode
45. CONTENTIOUS CODE REVIEWS @compassioncode
46. LULL IN USER SIGN UPS @compassioncode
47. SNAPPING AT COWORKERS @compassioncode
48. You are ALWAYS doing your best @compassioncode
49. You are ALWAYS doing your best @compassioncode …given the circumstances
50. 1.  WHAT is compassion? 2.  WHY is it important? 3.  HOW can you use it? @compassioncode
51. "I'm not worried about artificial intelligence giving computers the ability to think like humans… I'M MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE THINKING LIKE COMPUTERS.” –Tim Cook @compassioncode h"p://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/09/watch-apple- ceo--m-cook-speaks-at-mit-commencement.html
52. “Remaking the tech industry…reforming it around being more ETHICAL and HUMANE…this is one of the most important missions around.” –Anil Dash http://onbeing.org/programs/anil- dash-techs-moral-reckoning/ @compassioncode
53. “If it is not tempered by COMPASSION and EMPATHY, REASON can lead men and women into a MORAL VOID.” –Karen Armstrong Join the movement! compassionatecoding.com @compassioncode