Our materialist society gives little consideration in companies to critical human values like empathy and trust. This bias makes us think that only information is useful to make better decisions without taking into account that we also need to create rules, processes, or frameworks that help to build and sustain empathy in the organization. This will also help us to make better decisions.
You probably think I made a mistake.. yes… I said processes and frameworks that help build empathy in the organization.
We need to consider that we are not all born with the ability to empathize with others. It’s a skill that can be learned and developed over time through practice and practice alone. But there is no such thing as an overnight success when we are talking of empathy.
You need to learn how to develop it and how to manage frustration with things that don’t work as expected when you are trying to connect with someone else. In my opinion, in the company all these things need to be supported by processes and practices that make it difficult for your employees not to develop this skill.
Here are some tips on how you can use to build empathy for others:
1. Don’t assume everyone has the same level of empathy
2. Be open to new ideas and feedback
3. Listen more
4. Don’t give unsolicited advice
5. Be willing to accept criticism and use sense of humor as a possitive tool
6. Temporarily embrace other person’ values and principles, even if you don’t agree with them
7. Don’t try to force people into your position
8. Don’t expect people to understand what you’re saying, so you rather use different techniques when explaining something (drawing, playing or even singing!)
9. Never ask someone to explain something they don’t know
10. Build processes and practices that makes it difficult for people not to build empathy for others
Thanks for listening,
Erich.
