Here's how you can cultivate empathy in your emotional intelligence skill set as an executive.

When said in plain words empathy is looking from the others perspective; but there is so much more to it. when you actually step into the other's shoe, see what they see, feel what they feel, hear what they hear; then automatically a true sense of emmpathy is developed. Meanwhile it is also important to ensure that you remain neutral, unbiased and judgement free. This helps in understanding why the client has done or said whatever.

Cultivate empathy by actively listening, acknowledging others' perspectives, and showing genuine concern for their feelings and needs. Practice open communication and seek to understand the emotional impact of your decisions.

In meinen Projekten begegne ich h?ufig hoch intelligenten und stark analytisch orientierten Menschen, denen gerne die F?higkeit zur Empathie abgesprochen wird. Nicht selten tun sie das auch selbst. Sicherlich gibt es Menschen die hier ein besonderes Talent haben, aber der Zugang dazu ist den wenigsten Menschen tats?chlich komplett versagt. Nicht selten konnte ich bei diesen Kandidaten mit dem sog. "Empathy Mapping" gute Ergebnisse erzielen. Dabei handelt es sich um eine Methode, die den Zugang zu der Perspektive und das Erlebnis einer bestimmten Person oder Zielgruppe stark vereinfacht. Was sagt die Person? Was denkt sie? Was fühlt sie? Was tut sie? Welchen Schmerz hat sie? Was gewinnt sie? Das Resultat, neue Erkenntnisse und mehr Klarheit

Reading fiction and biographies exposes you to different lives & experiences, enhancing your ability to relate to diverse perspectives. Choose books that provide deep insights into characters’ thoughts & emotions. This practice can increase your empathy by broadening your understanding of human experiences. Give your full attention to the speaker without interrupting. Summarize what they’ve said to confirm understanding. Use phrases like "Tell me more," "Help me understand," "Walk me through that". Validate others' feelings with statements like “I can see why you would feel that way” or “That sounds really challenging.” Avoid minimizing their experiences. Reflect on your own emotions and triggers to enhance emotional intelligence.

I always use to say -> we have 2 ears and only one mouth - so we should listening at least 2 times more than we speak ?? Remember that when you speak, you are only sharing what you know, but when you are listening, you might be learning something new ??

Aktives Zuh?ren hei?t raus aus dem L?sungsmodus rein in die Pr?senz. Das klingt profan ist aber tats?chlich zu einer der gr??ten Herausforderungen für uns geworden. Pr?sent zu sein, im hier und jetzt zu sein bedeutet nicht an das letzte Meeting zu denken oder an die E-Mail die man noch schreiben muss. Es bedeutet nicht auf das Handy oder die Uhr zu schauen und auch kein aufgeklapptes Laptop vor sich zu haben. Mit vollem Fokus auf die Person wirklich zu versuchen in ihre Perspektive zu wechseln und sie mit zu erleben. Und bitte nicht auf schr?ge Methoden zurückgreifen wie konstantes Nicken und das wiederholen der letzten 3 W?rter. Simuliertes Interesse wird erkannt und besch?digt die notwendige Vertrauensbasis. Zuh?ren, Fragen, Verstehen.

My wake-up call came during a tense budget meeting. As I watched my usually composed CFO struggle to maintain her cool, I felt a familiar knot in my stomach. It mirrored how I'd felt presenting to the board last quarter. Suddenly, I saw beyond the numbers to the person behind them. Instead of pushing harder, I called a brief recess. Over coffee, we talked - not about figures, but about pressure and expectations. That conversation changed everything. Now, before every meeting, I take a moment to check in with myself and imagine walking in others' shoes. It's not just made me a better leader; it's transformed our entire team dynamic. Who knew that understanding my own emotions could be the key to unlocking others'?

Most human behaviour is driven by positive intent. By recognising this, we can reduce conflicts and misunderstandings, gaining a perspective that fosters constructive problem-solving and enhances collaboration.