Empathy is the starting point for creating a community and taking action. It’s the impetus for creating change. – Max Carver
I recently experienced what I call the ‘tea bag karma effect.’ For years I never bothered to make my mum’s tea just as she likes it, because I didn’t like tea and I never felt the inclination to know what it’s like to receive a great cup of tea. (Sorry Mum!)
However, when the shoe was on the other foot – when I wanted someone to make my coffee just as I liked it and they refused, I had a taste of what that was like! As small an event as this may seem, it highlighted to me how being tuned into people’s needs on every level can make a positive difference.
Why empathy?
A high level of empathy can make that huge difference as a leader or influencer in those inflection points, the turning points where you need to make a difference or inspire change. When people feel like you really do know what it’s like to walk in their shoes, they’ll have more respect for you, which in turn leads to deeper relationships with more engagement and willingness.
We’re being quoted over and over again that 70% of employees are disengaged, so bringing in more empathy can help turn these figures on their head.
How do you ‘do’ empathy?
Until you’ve done something yourself, or something’s happened to you, you may be oblivious to how those around you are feeling in certain situations. This is where you need to challenge yourself and either put, or imagine, yourself in other situations you haven’t actually experienced.
Do you currently experience what your clients or customers experience, or are you just going on what you assume they are experiencing?
If you’re a leader, how about your team members? What are they actually experiencing by being led by you?
Do you empathise with genuine curiosity and do you energise with connection?
Or, do you alienate through a lack of awareness, and cause resistance through a lack of understanding?
There are lots of wonderful examples of people wanting to make a difference through direct experience. Vinnie’s CEO Sleepout is one of them.
What can you do to walk in the shoes of someone you need to influence or want to make a difference with? I for one will be making a perfect cup of tea next time!
When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you. – Susan Sarandon