Why Empathy Is Important at Work

Empathy is the ability to identify with people and share their feelings, and is commonly defined as ‘putting yourself in the someone else’s shoes’. Like other innate abilities, some people are more adept at empathy than others, but it is always possible to enhance it.

Empathy is a key competence of emotional intelligence, and is significant when communicating with and relating to others. People are social beings and we need the help of others to live in society. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to the needs of others, and not just our own. In this way, we can develop personally and professionally.

Benefits of empathy at work

Without empathy, it’s impossible to understand the feelings, problems and motivations of others. At work, it’s important to create bonds of trust, respect and fellowship. There are four working areas where empathy has great benefits:

1. Teamwork: An empathetic person will try to analyse other points of view besides his or her own. Listening to other colleagues’ opinions is fundamental to improving team efficiency and decision-making by formulating and following a common goal.
2. Leadership: A good leader always tries to find the best solution for the whole team. An environment where active two-way communication (where everybody feels comfortable sharing his or her opinion) is the norm is facilitated by a strong leader.
3. Negotiation: In a negotiation process, empathy plays an important role. Understanding the other party, and what they can and can’t compromise on, is key for successful negotiation.
4. Customer service: Empathy helps us understand what customers need and attend to these needs as much as possible. Of course, it is also important to be realistic with what you can and can’t offer.

Learn to develop your empathy skills

You can put empathy in practise at work to establish good professional relationships. Here are some tips that will help you be more empathetic:

• Dealing with difficult emails and requests: We don’t always know the workload a colleague is dealing with, and maybe this is why some requests come with such urgency. It’s important to write our responses with empathy in mind. At the same time, when making ‘difficult’ requests of your own, try to write emails with your recipient in mind. Be polite and express your needs in a respectful and explanatory way.
• Adapting your approach to people based on their personalities: People are different from each other, so try to take the right approach per individual. Some people like to jump right into the topic at hand, whereas others might want to have a little small talk first, for example. In addition, each person is dealing with a different situation in his or her personal life. Remember, we don’t always know what people have on their plate outside of work.
• Active listening: Everyone deserves be heard, and by listening to different people, we learn. Be patient and try not to interrupt. In addition, verbal and non-verbal communication provide us with more information about a colleague’s needs than just his or her speech.
• Giving your opinion: Do this honestly, yet constructively. Make sure to also recognise the good qualities and achievements of others when sharing your feedback.
• Facilitating the work of your colleagues: This creates bonds and a feeling of teamwork, and it is likely your colleagues will reciprocate.

Being empathetic can help you be more objective by eliminating prejudices and assumptions. In addition, empathy will allow you to have a better relationship with your colleagues and feel more comfortable resolving conflicts. A good working environment means higher productivity! Why not try practising empathy in your next meeting or call?