How can you communicate empathy to those experiencing job loss or career transition?

In my experience, listening and removing my 'problem solving' hat is the most important way to help when someone is at a tough point. Even suggesting someone breathe or take time for reflection can feel condescending when you are in a tough spot. Avoid, changing the subject to 'when I...' Then, you are taking the focus way from them and onto yourself. Asking how you can support them or what they feel they need right now are great questions. If they feel trust with you they will open up for help when they are ready.

First, we are all different, therefore, the approach would be different. There is no single recommendation that applies to everyone. But what would be the same: productive communication. First of all, showing sincere interest, if I am interested of course and if the person wants to share how they feel.. then, in listening to the needs of the person and the experiences the are going through. Empathy means little here because we all experience the same things in different ways. Therefore compassion, listening and directing the conversation in a productive direction with the desire to make the person feel better.

In my experience "Networking cultivates vital connections for career transitions, as well as the key to co-creating and collaborating projects with others." Dont you think Marifer?

I have personally battled through job loss and career transitions and till this day hasn't changed lol. Firstly we have to change the way we look at it as a whole, as in modern times, being adaptive and resilience is essential. Job security unfortunately is not as secure as before. Adding onto @Karen. Listening is the best thing you can do, actively listening, which is not always the easiest thing to do. Let them finish before you speak. Hand in hand with listening, asking open ended questions, like "how did that make you feel?, What could they have done differently". Be a detective and get to the bottom of the root cause if they are upset. Some may secretly be blessed.

In my experience it is best to resist the urge to go into solution-mode and really try to center the experience of the person. When we see someone in pain our immediate reaction is usually to try and alleviate said pain, which is normal and human and kind, but immediate solution-mode could be robbing the person of a profound opportunity to reflect on where they are in life, where they want to be, and how work fits into that. My recommendation would be to hold space, to listen, to ask questions, and be guided by what the person feels they need from others - its not always "an in" at a new company.

Empathic listening creates the bond between the parties involved. It starts with active listening and full attention to the topic in hand. Trying to reflect the situation back from the other person's perspective and emotions. With the world of distractions already giving your full attention without interruptions or the need to necessary give advice is powerful.

Another way to listen empathically is to avoid giving unsolicited advice. You may have had a similar experience and as such you want to share what you did and did not. This will cause more harm than good, making it seem the conversation is about you or that you are an insensitive person. It is better to ask open-ended questions allowing this person to speak more so you can hear their thoughts and better understand their pains.

Maintaining appropriate eye contact and resisting the desire to advise and correct the other person, unless they ask are important in demonstrating empathy. Even when they ask it should be brief and focussed on their choices rather than on the expression of your ideas and opinions. Be self-aware of your own emotions and urges to help and to impose what you think is the best for them, avoid being sympathetic or expressing your point of view or saying/doing anything that takes the attention away from what the other person might wish to share.

Often in uncomfortable situations, we try to fill up "silences" as we feel they make the situation more awkward. However, pausing and holding the silence can be powerful when listening empathically. This is because we all process and vocalize our feelings and emotions at different paces. Your attempt to fill an empty silence could take away from the speaker completing their thought process , let alone verbalizing their thought to you. Give yourself the permission to pause after the person has spoken. This way, they feel heard.

What does empathically (or empathetically) actually mean? It means that you understand and can name (identify) someone else's emotions. So to listen empathically means that you're listening to someone's words AND you're listening to the emotions revealed by those words. Pro tip: We prefer to communicate negative emotions through facial expressions rather than through words. So when you listen empathically, also pay attention to the speaker's body language, vocal tone, and facial expressions.

Expressing empathy verbally is powerful. It helps the other person feel they are seen, heard, and their feelings validated. Phrases like: I got you. I hear you. It must be frustrating / tough / sad / etc. help the speaker feel they are not alone. Verbal empathy when done right creates connection. Pro tip: Don't tell someone how they should feel. There isn't a good/bad, right/wrong judgment here. Simply reiterate what they've said so they feel the compassion and know you understand what they've said and what they feel.

Something that I've noticed a lot of people struggle with is how to express empathy if the person voices negative feelings: → don't question or defend against them → instead consider what it is like to feel that way, regardless of whether you think their feelings are justified → you may try responding something like "I can sense that you're feeling frustrated" or "I can understand how that situation could cause frustration" And most importantly: ? Avoid making judgements about what the other person is saying and accept their perspective even if you disagree

Non-verbal empathy is all about making the other person feel safe to voice their opinion. ?? Try not to interrupt and even hold back advice. Sometimes it’s best just to listen instead of trying to offer solutions to what they’re sharing ?? Avoid attending to distractions in your environment or checking your phone ?? Use engaged body language → for example: nodding, making eye contact, keeping an open and relaxed posture ?? Be mindful of your facial expressions → for example: avoid expressions that might communicate disapproval ?? Allow for natural pauses instead of trying to fill every second with words. This might allow the other person to collect their thoughts and add to their perspective

Non-verbal empathy starts with the mindset of being present and paying full attention to the other person from the non-judgmental point of view. Little gestures of being attentive to the other, like nodding, gentle touch and eye contact are ways of showing the other person that you are there for them and that you care for them. Non-verbal empathy presents itself also as gestures: giving a handkerchief to the other when needed, taking a seat so that other person can sit there and standing up for the elderly people in the bus so they can have a seat. Non-verbal gestures can show the other person that you care even though you might not know what to say.

Non-verbal empathy is also very powerful. Think about a time when you had to give a speech or perform on stage or present to a group of people. How did one person smiling back at you or nodding their head to support you make you feel? Great, right? Your mission for today is to convey non-verbal empathy to someone in your life. You got this!

For me this is part of the non-verbal empathy that occurs through actions. I think that empathy itself doesn't necessarily include the actions, compassion is more active, oriented to do something to relieve the suffering to others.

There are so many ways to support via empathy. One of the most effective I've found is simply asking the question "How can I best support you right now?" This allows the recipient to decide if they want support or not (gives them agency), set their boundaries, and then identify something that will be helpful to them. It takes away the guesswork and helps you provide them something of value.

One thing I've found helpful is a question you can ask to support your friend. How can I help? Based on what they reply, you can extend help. For Instance, if they need feedback on the resume, you can offer to go through the document. If they need help in circulating their resume, you can share it amongst your professional circles. If they need help in looking for jobs, you can keep eye for opportunities. Ask what support they seek and help accordingly.

The best way to practice empathy is to write your own past worse experiences. Try to understand yourself, the circumstances and the actions taken. Listen to your self in that situation. Healing your past would make you become a good empath to yourself and to others.

What helped me the most was to distinguish empathy from sympathy. To truly empathize, your presence alone can be a great comfort, offering space and a patient ear. Engage in active listening and echoing/reflecting their words can affirm that you're truly absorbing their message. Pose open-ended questions to delve deeper into their experience. Resist advice/solving their problems; sometimes being heard is more important than finding a fix. When you do share your own experiences, maintain the focus on them to foster a sense of connection without overshadowing their feelings. Assure them of your support in any capacity they might need. A follow-up to see how they're progressing can demonstrate genuine empathy. Above all just be there for them!

In my experience, it is very important to make the choice of being empathetic, and then not deviate from it throughout the conversation. Being aware of your own mental reactions and judgements (which are natural and nobody's fault ) and knowing that they may be just habits of thinking acquired unconsciously, rather than a reflection of who you are, will help you. The simple thought of choosing not to express everything that comes to your mind will help you to cultivate the skills and attitudes required to be empathetic, over a period of time.