Look without judgment and
work toward a solution
Communicating with empathy
When your leadership style is results-driven, some empathy is still missing. Especially when you are under pressure. This often happens without you noticing it right away. As you move toward your goals, you can imperceptibly create distance from your team members. A new look at your behavior and your way of communicating will help you maintain connection and bring your team along in what you want to achieve.
The core of social capabilities
What distinguishes the concepts of sympathy, empathy and compassion?
- Sympathy revolves around the sense that you grant someone something. You feel appreciation or closeness and respond with well-meaning comments such as “it will be okay.” That sounds friendly, but doesn’t always offer support because it ignores what someone is really feeling.
- Empathy goes further. You actively put yourself in the other person’s shoes, even if you have a different experience yourself. Your focus is on the other person. You offer space without drawing the situation to yourself.
- Compassion includes an extra step. You empathize, distance yourself from the emotion and then think about what is helpful. You look for an appropriate action that moves the other person forward.
Communicating empathically in the workplace
Team members don’t always look for a magic solution when faced with a challenge. Above all, they are looking for someone who thinks with them, sees them and guides them through the process. This creates trust and commitment. You can approach it this way:
Try to be the world from the other’s point of view
Put aside your own assumptions. Pay attention to what the other person is saying and from what perspective.
Listen without judgment
As soon as you judge, the space for openness drops. By actively listening, you give the other person the opportunity to speak freely.
Recognize and name emotions
When you name what you see and hear, the other person feels supported. Avoid relatable phrases such as “it could have been worse.” By doing so, you diminish another person’s emotions.
Provide support
When the time comes, you can see together what steps are possible. Here you shift from empathy to compassion. You support, without taking over.
Brené Brown on empathy
Want to delve deeper into empathy? Brené Brown shows in this video that you only truly connect when you are willing to acknowledge your own vulnerability. That awareness strengthens your ability to be present with the other person.
