Ep 21: Why risk practitioners must build the empathy muscle

Why - you may ask - should risk practitioners care about empathy? After all, risk management is about managing uncertainty as objectively as possible. How does exercising the empathy muscle help risk practitioners do a better job than, let us say, focusing more on data analysis and regulatory requirements?In this episode, Christie Johnson reminds us that risk management is a team sport. When working in a cross-functional team, we have to pay attention to every individual’s unique perspective. Instead of pushing our own way to achieve quick results, we need to first allow different perspectives to be shared openly without judgment.This is the essence of empathy. To listen carefully so we can truly understand the other person’s viewpoint. We don’t have to agree or disagree. But it is very important to make sure we enroll everyone so they are able to contribute fully, and we arrive at the best outcome as a team.About Christie JohnsonChristie Johnson is currently a partner at Prodct, a boutique advisory firm to support early-stage biotech, medical device, diagnostic and therapeutic companies throughout product development and commercialization activities. Guided by a solid knowledge of ISO 14971 risk management, she helps create effective strategies for quality, regulatory and manufacturing, while also providing direct execution support including resource augmentation when necessary.About Let’s Talk Risk! with Dr. Naveen AgarwalLet’s Talk Risk! with Dr. Naveen Agarwal is a weekly live audio event on LinkedIn, where we talk about risk management related topics in a casual, informal way. Join us at 11:00 am EST every Friday on LinkedIn.DisclaimerInformation and insights presented in this podcast are for educational purposes only. Views expressed by all speakers are their own and do not reflect those of their respective organizations.If you enjoyed this episode, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit naveenagarwalphd.substack.com/subscribe