Episode Description
Psychological safety, workplace culture, and empathy in leadership take center stage on this episode of Civility Matters. Host Dr. John O'Brien sits down with Karen Hall — known worldwide as the "Queen of Empathy" — a psychological safety keynote speaker, bestselling author, and leadership strategist who helps organizations build trust, engagement, and emotional intelligence at every level.
Together they unpack what psychological safety actually means, the warning signs it's missing from a conversation or a team, and how empathetic leadership fuels civility even during disagreement. Karen tackles a question many leaders avoid: can you create psychological safety for someone whose views you find genuinely harmful? She also draws a clear line between healthy disagreement and dehumanizing conflict, and offers one practical habit anyone can use today to build more trust and safety at work.
Whether you're a manager navigating a toxic workplace, an HR leader building a healthier culture, or just curious about emotional intelligence and leadership, this conversation delivers real, usable strategies.
For more on my work on rudeness and incivility, you can find information at: