Empathy and validation are essential skills for effective communication. They help you understand the feelings and perspectives of others, and show them that you respect and care about their experiences. In this article, you will learn what empathy and validation are, how they can improve your communication, and some tips to practice them in different situations.
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and feel what they are feeling, which is distinct from sympathy or agreement. It involves recognizing and acknowledging the emotions of others, without judgement or attempting to alter them. Empathy can help you communicate more effectively by building trust and rapport with others, reducing conflicts and misunderstandings, improving your listening and feedback skills, demonstrating genuine interest and curiosity, and increasing your awareness and sensitivity.
Everything you need to know about this was said, not long ago, by Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you did, people will forget what you said; but people will never forget how you made them feel”.
Validation is the act of confirming and accepting the feelings and thoughts of others, which is distinct from approval or praise. It is about showing understanding and respect for someone's experiences without invalidating them. Validation can help you communicate better by making others feel heard and valued, reducing defensiveness and resistance, encouraging openness and honesty, strengthening your relationships and rapport, and supporting the emotional well-being of others.
Empathy and validation are not innate abilities that are either present or absent; they are skills that can be learned and honed through practice and intentional effort. To practice empathy and validation in different situations, try active listening techniques like paraphrasing, reflecting, and asking open-ended questions. Additionally, use nonverbal cues such as eye contact, nodding, and smiling to demonstrate engagement. You can also use empathic statements like "I can see how you feel..." or validating statements such as "That makes sense..." to show understanding and support. Finally, be sure to avoid common pitfalls such as interrupting, giving advice, judging, criticizing, or dismissing what others are saying or feeling; these can have a negative impact on your empathy and validation efforts.
Empathy and validation are essential for successful communication with others, as well as for your own personal growth. They can help you increase your emotional intelligence, self-esteem, and confidence. Additionally, they can reduce stress and anxiety while enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills. Ultimately, practicing empathy and validation can help you achieve your goals by communicating more clearly and building stronger relationships. In short, empathy and validation are powerful tools that can help you make meaningful connections and improve your personal and professional outcomes.
Empathy and validation are NOT tools to be used for personal gain. These should be parts of our character that help us connect with our fellow humans. Can business come from these interactions? Sure, but they shouldn't be used for this purpose. Too many relationships have become transactional. If you're only displaying empathy and validation to get to a desired end goal, then you are treating people not like people, but like projects. The relationship is the prize. No amount of money replaces human connection. Perhaps if we were better humans, we would be better business people as well. Please take this as a challenge to be genuine in your relationships, both personal and business.