Question

Tom Monahan serves as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of CEB. As part of CEB’s leadership for more than a decade, Tom has helped redefine how the world’s leading companies make their most important decisions.

Ashoka: What would you say empathy really means for you – personally and professionally – in the course of your life?

Answer 1

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Reading fiction, according to Tom Elemas, can help cultivate empathy and combat desensitization. Story-telling, particularly through fiction, allows readers to immerse themselves in the experiences of the characters, fostering a deeper understanding and compassion.

Step-by-step explanation:

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. For Tom Elemas, reading fiction helps cultivate empathy, which he believes is an important quality to combat the desensitization caused by tragic news and headlines. Story-telling, particularly through fiction, can create empathy by allowing readers to immerse themselves in the experiences and emotions of the characters. By connecting with the characters and their story, readers can develop a deeper understanding and compassion for others.