Empathetic Communication: Is it Important at Work??

Empathy in the workplace is often more productive and supportive.

So far, it hasn’t been an easy period. As we continue to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us are feeling exhausted much before in the year than we typically would.?

What’s more, many organizations are fastening on communicating empathically when talking with their employees and with customers and prospects

Empathy is a critical skill for managers and staff to display if an organization wants to make progress towards a fair and equitable work environment. It is fairly understudied content.

We know that empathy is about emotion, and, in particular, about emotional connection. Empathic communication involves both accepting and allowing different perspectives and emotions in other people, and also participating with them to enable encouragement and support. It’s also the practice of actively listening, in an effort to understand the chords of whom you’re communicating.

Empathy in the environment of the workplace simply means that your people are able to establish true, empathetic connections with one another that enhance connections and performance.

It’s important to remember the difference between sympathy and empathy, as the 2 are frequently confused:

• Sympathy is generally defined by feelings of pity for another person, without really understanding what it’s like to be in their situation.
• Empathy, on the other hand, refers to the capacity or ability to imagine oneself in the situation of another, experiencing the emotions, ideas, or opinions of that person.

what does it mean to communicate with true understanding and what expertise do you need? What does it mean to use empathy as a business, where your target followership isn’t yet engaged in a dialogue with your brand? Or what does it mean as an employer when you’re trying to foster an empathic environment between team members?

5 Tips for Communicating with Empathy

1. Respond in a timely manner to the concerns of your target followership. Whether it’s a global crisis or a support ticket, addressing the issue promptly (without instantly turning it into a marketing campaign) shows people you really watch how they’re feeling.?
2. Take inspiration from reflective listening. Rather than simply saying “ I understand your concerns,” try to pair your understanding with a reflection of the context that’s causing people to respond in a particular way. Frequently it means adding a fresh judgment like “ I see where you’re coming from. I would feel the same way if I endured that ( validating the person’s emotional experience).” Without relying on interpretation, articulating someone’s feelings back to them in your own words helps people feel not only heard but understood.
3. Admit people’s subjective experience even if you disagree. “ We know the recent changes to our terms and conditions may make some people uncomfortable, however, you can count on us to provide you with clear communication and flexible options.”
4. Be accountable. Regardless of the intention behind your communication, your organization should take responsibility for how your content affects people, even if it elicits an uninvited response.
5. Use emotive language in content responsibly. Use an emotional analysis tool to make sure you’re not unnecessarily evoking fear or anger to prompt a response from your target audience.

Empathic communication skills are vital for both internal and external communication — so for employees and customers

Watch?Ted Talk by Joan Halifax titled “Compassion and the true meaning of empathy”

It’s never been more important to relate to one another in a way that celebrates diversity and makes people feel safe and heard.

What are your comments???