Recently, I was chatting with a friend about an online workshop I’d signed up for—a session whose topic should have kept me energized from start to finish.
Instead, I found myself wondering whether I should just… drop off.
The reason? A string of unwelcoming moments that made the experience feel maybe I just didn’t belong there. My friend listened, then asked:
“What’s the one thing they could have done that would have improved the experience?”
I laughed. It’s never just one thing—experience design is complex and nuanced.
But later, I remembered a phrase from my mother:
“Sleep in your own guest bed.”
What My Mother’s Advice Taught Me
My mother’s approach to hospitality ran deep. She made a point of living as her guests would—testing the mattress, the light, the lukewarm water—so she could notice what others might miss. At her funeral, this was the story I shared: how her superpower was hospitality born of deep, practical empathy.
Empathy Is the Heart of Experience Design
That lesson is just as vital in my work designing learning experiences and workplace culture. True transformation happens when we:
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Step away from our own assumptions
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Imagine every moment from a participant’s perspective
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Notice friction points, confusion, or discomfort
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Take intentional steps to reduce those gaps
It isn’t about theories or checklists. It’s about treating learning, onboarding, or leadership development as more than content delivery.
It’s about making people feel they belong—because we cared enough to notice.
Next-Level Results Require Empathy
When organizations design everything from onboarding to training with empathy, they don’t just inform—they engage. They foster retention, trust, and growth.
Empathy turns “good enough” into transformational.
Ready to Transform Your Team’s Experiences?
If your nonprofit or small business is ready to level up your learning strategy—or you’re wondering how you can make every workplace interaction more thoughtful—start by “sleeping in your own guest bed.”
Curious what this looks like in action? Let’s talk about how empathy-driven strategies can end workplace suffering and unlock your team’s true potential.
Contact me for a conversation about building a learning culture where every person feels seen and valued.