Wired to Care

How Companies Prosper When They Create Widespread Empathy

by Dev Patnaik

FT Press, 2009

ISBN: 9780137142347
Pages: 272

Category: Human Resources

In this summary you will learn

• Why many firms operate in a reptilian, cold-blooded fashion
• How the human brain is wired to feel empathy
• How firms can increase their sales and profits by becoming more empathetic toward their customers
• What factors make IBM, Nike and Harley-Davidson empathetic companies

Why you should read Wired to Care

Executives often know little about the people who buy their companies’ products and services. This is not surprising. To study people, you must care about them. However, most companies eliminate empathy from their operations. In essence, they proceed as if they have calculating, survival-bent reptile brains. Profits drive everything. This is an odd disconnect because corporate livelihoods depend on people – not lizards – and people’s brains are hardwired to be empathetic. Dev Patnaik (writing with Peter Mortensen) shows why firms that connect empathetically with their customers do better financially. He insists today’s cold-hearted, bottom-line business world has room for caring companies, and he points to IBM, Nike and Harley-Davidson as examples. The fact that empathy is also a strong business strategy is icing on the cake. getAbstract suggests this fine book to CEOs, marketing officers and other executives who want to build their business by acting on their respect for their customers. As Patnaik explains on his blog, “Empathy isn’t about having a visionary leader. It’s about making customer information an easy, everyday and experiential part of working at your company.”

About the Author

Dev Patnaik is the founder and head of a San Francisco growth strategy firm. He teaches “Needfinding” at Stanford University. Peter Mortensen is in charge of communications activities at Patnaik’s firm. He is a Wired blog contributor.

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