Furious customers? Missed deadlines? Failed products? The problems your business faces may stem from a single issue: lack of empathy. In this practical playbook for organizations of all types, Maria Ross pairs her knowledge as a branding expert with proven research and fascinating stories from executives, changemakers, and community leaders to prove that empathy is great for business―and may transform you at a personal level, too. Ross shows why your business needs to cultivate more empathy now, and shares the habits and traits of leaders who foster more productivity and loyalty. She gives practical tips, big and small, for how to align your mission with your values and hire the right people, cultivating a more innovative workplace culture. Finally, she gives you the goods on building your brand in an authentic and proactive way, and shows how doing so results in happier customers, market-leading offerings, and increased profits. "The workplace is now more diverse than ever before.Building a stronger culture starts by relating to each other, regardless of background, age, or life experience. Maria Ross shows that empathycan be your superpower if you want to achieve your goals. She gives yousolid tips to help you build your emotional intelligence, and harnessthe power of diverse perspectives if you want your organization tothrive." -- Chip Conley , hospitality entrepreneur and New York Times -bestselling author "In today's crowded and noisy marketplace, humanity wins. Maria Ross'scompelling new book shows--through research, case studies, and practical advice--how compassion and cultivating an empathetic mindset can helpleaders and brands stand out." -- Dorie Clark , author of Stand Out and Reinventing You and adjunct professor at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business "Today, the products and services of Company A and Company B are oftenengineered and optimized until they are indistinguishable. But onedifferentiator remains: empathy. This is a wise, passionate, motivatingbook that's a must-read for every manager and executive." -- Jay Baer , founder of Convince & Convert and co-author of Talk Triggers "Maria Ross's insightful book couldn't have come at a better time. She showswhy empathy is an intangible good that customers will happily pay for.The Empathy Edge is a wave worth riding." -- Marty Neumeier author of The Brand Gap "Today, when top talent seeks not just a paycheck, but purpose and fulfillmentat work, Maria Ross shows us that empathy is the foundation of thrivingcareers and cultures. Those organizations that figure it out will be the ones that succeed in the new economy, and those that don't will beincreasingly irrelevant--losing talent, productivity, and market demand. This book goes beyond theory to lay out specific actions leaders cantake to build the brands and cultures of the future." -- Aaron Hurst cofounder and CEO of Imperative and bestselling author of The Purpose Economy "Maria Ross brings practical, compelling insights to one of the key attributes we must all build and grow if we hope to thrive on this planet:empathy. Empathy is one of those roots that will ground your success inall aspects of your life. The ability to understand others' perspectives gives us a design edge for our business, an understanding ofdifferences that creates more powerful relationships, and a happinessfactor that is priceless. Read this book if you want to level up in allparts of your life." -- Vicki Saunders founder of SheEO and #radicalgenerosity "Relationships are critical to success and your greatest asset. To enable productiverelationships with colleagues, subordinates, and customers, individualsmust approach those connections with empathy and compassion. This bookbrings theory and action together in one powerful resource to helporganizations create a connected culture and prioritize people to fuelsuccess. Empathy is a concept that needs to be embraced in theworkplace--and Maria Ross shows us exactly how to do it." -- Michelle Tillis Lederman author of The Connector's Advantage and The 11 Laws of Likability "Maria Ross shares hard-won lessons about the power of empathy from herexperiences in the healthcare system and her years as a brand strategist to some of the top brands in the world to empower leaders andbusinesses of all kinds to treat their stakeholders with the compassionand care required to build customers for life. She provides practicalsteps for any organization to shift their cultural mindset in ways thatwill not only increase their productivity, retention, and financialsuccess, but also improve their personal interactions. This book isexactly what we need right now to ensure our world is a lot more livable for all of us." -- Denise Brosseau CEO of Thought Leadership Lab and bestselling author of Ready to Be a Thought Leader? Maria Ross, Empathy Advocate, Keynote/Workshop Speaker, Author, and Podcaster Maria Ross is a speaker, facilitator, author, and emp