The Importance of Displaying Empathy at Work

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“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins. And it’s up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.”

—Barack Obama

A big success factor at work is the ability to understand other people's emotions and empathize with them. This is how individuals learn to coexist, resolve conflicts, increase cooperation and build successful teams.

However, as Dan Trommater pointed out at the November Chapter Meeting, people are afraid of changing things and they continue to do them the way they always have been done. It is because they fear the unknown that accompanies something new. Assumptions are a critical component of it. We assume things and let that take possession of our actions thereafter. We might find it much easier to learn technical skills but are always shy of developing our interpersonal skills such as the skill to empathize.

What Is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand other people’s emotions in a certain situation. It allows you to help other’s survive challenging situations when you assume the good in them, rather than the bad. It is a key component of emotional intelligence and it helps to build trust and strong teams. People who possess empathy are sought out for their leadership skills across the workforce.

"The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy."

—Meryl Streep

How to Develop Empathy at Work

When you start a new job, you might find it difficult to show empathy. You could be nervous about coming across as emotional or weak. But don’t think that is wrong. As Dan suggests in his session, who cares if you fail. Put aside your fears and see different viewpoints. It will instill empathy in you. Once you learn to see things from the other person’s perspective, you will be able to recognize that any behaviour which seems emotional at first is simply a human reaction based on our prior knowledge and experiences of situations. They do not define our personalities, which if worked on, can be changed.

Don’t forget, nothing in this world is permanent. There are several ways of doing things and observing situations with no one way being better than the other. What works for you today, might not even apply five years from now. Human beings, since inception were born to evolve. However, somewhere down the lane, we created assumptions and halted our progress. This is why we must let go of our preconceived notions and learn to look at alternatives.

Consider Other People's Viewpoints

When you run into a situation that you do not like, do not be quick to make judgements. Take a moment to examine your attitude. Then, with an open mind, free of assumptions, try to see the situation from the other’s perspective. When you do this, you will be able to acknowledge why others believe what they believe is right. You do not even have to agree with their belief. But be sure to display respect and keep listening without judging them.

If it still doesn’t make sense, ask the person to explain their view point and ask questions to clarify. If still unclear, inquire how their approach will help resolve the issue. Empathy is a two-way street so assume that they are also empathetic to your viewpoints as well so be open to sharing. However, before you share, be aware that your opinion might be rejected but that doesn’t mean you are wrong or the other person is. It just means you have contrasting ways of observing situations. Accept it and move on.

Be Attentive

One of the worst things that has come out of our advancement in technology is a decline in our ability to listen to others. When I say listen, it doesn’t just mean to listen to the words coming out of their mouth. It implies that you are looking at their facial expressions and how they change over the course of the conversation e.g. if they were smiling, why did they become serious all of a sudden? What is it that they are telling you that changed their sentiments? Facial cues such as these are critical to listening to someone. Use your gut instincts free of any preconceived notions to understand the entire message that they are trying to convey.

Act Right Away

There are multiple ways of demonstrating empathy at work, based on the situation. It will vary with what the other person needs and wants, so make sure that your actions benefit them and not you. For example, a co-worker who is a single parent has a 2-year old who is unable to attend day care due to Covid and is worried as to how he can both be at work and be with the child. It will be kind if you tell him that he can work from home until he resolves the situation. It might be a small action from your end but will provide some respite to the employee, causing him to be more productive at his work.

Starting now, practice empathy daily and remember every little action counts. Empathy is critical to our success in the world today and when you develop a reputation for being caring and trustworthy, you will be a great asset to your organization, encouraging others to be empathetic as well.

UP NEXT

Join us for our next Chapter Meeting on Tuesday, December 15, 2020 as we celebrate the holidays and tackle another important topic: Mental Health and Self Care.

For comments or inquiries, do not hesitate to reach me at [email protected].

—Ammara Mahmood, MBA

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