Empathy in the workplace is the ability to be understanding towards colleagues and sensitive to their unique perspectives, work styles, and ideas. As a key component of emotional intelligence, empathy is the foundation of treating others with acceptance and compassion.
Defining Empathy in the Workplace
Empathy is the ability to perceive and relate to the thoughts, emotions, or experiences of others. Those with high levels of empathy are skilled at understanding a situation from another person's perspective and reacting with compassion.
For example, you likely smile and take the trouble to remember people's names: that's empathy in action. Giving people your full attention in meetings, being curious about their lives and interests, and offering constructive feedback are all empathic behaviors, too. Practice these skills often.
Empathy is the ability to perceive and understand the emotions of another person. There are three types of empathy: cognitive, emotional, and compassionate. Active listening, self-awareness, and curiosity are all important skills that improve empathy. Empathy in the workplace leads to better teamwork and leadership.
Perspective taking. Staying out of judgment. Recognizing emotion in another person. Communicating the understanding of another person's emotions.
One of the most valuable skills to have in the workplace is empathy. This can help you better relate to your coworkers and clients. Knowing how to be empathic can help you improve communication with others and create great relationships, making for a positive workplace.
Renowned psychologists Daniel Goleman and Paul Ekman have identified three components of empathy: Cognitive, Emotional and Compassionate.
If an individual at the company is grieving, for example, an empathetic leader may offer not just accommodation but also commiseration and an open door in case the individual needs someone to talk to. An empathetic leader sees team members as whole people, with emotions, and treats them that way.
Empathetic leaders motivate teams to do their best work. They listen. They acknowledge others' needs and contributions. They cultivate a shared vision and loyalty as a direct result of their investment in their team.
It's the ability to step into the shoes of another person, aiming to understand their feelings and perspectives, and to use that understanding to guide our actions. That makes it different from kindness or pity.
The term “empathy” is used to describe a wide range of experiences. Emotion researchers generally define empathy as the ability to sense other people's emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.
What is empathetic leadership? Empathetic leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on identifying with others and understanding their point of view. Empathetic leaders take a genuine interest in the people around them – what makes them tick, what inspires them and the way they feel.
By better understanding your team's workload and the frustrations they feel, you can empathize with their needs and worries. It's also a lot easier to spot the signs of burnout when you work alongside your workforce, which helps prevent disengagement.
Genuine empathy is the most powerful force imaginable to alter (and improve) human behavior. By resonating with another person's suffering — or celebrating their successes — your own choices and feelings change. Now their happiness is your happiness.
She summarizes the facets of this program, “Seven Keys of E.M.P.A.T.H.Y. ® ,” using the word as an acronym for: Eye contact, Muscles of facial expression, Posture, Affect, Tone of voice, Hearing the whole person, and Your response.