Cultivating Compassion

Empathy is often mistaken for the closely related concept of sympathy, but they convey distinct meanings. While sympathy characterizes a more general feeling of concern or pity for another person, empathy involves a deeper understanding of their experience, produced by the ability to share their thoughts, emotions, and perspectives. Empathy is an essential core value for building and maintaining healthy relationships both at work and in your personal life, as it means having the capacity to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. 

Reflecting on my career journey, it’s clear that the empathetic leaders I’ve encountered have had a significant impact on me. Times when I felt heard and understood by those in positions of authority motivated me to pursue my goals from a place of compassion. As the CEO and founder of Get-Looped, I strive to emulate their qualities every day.

Empathy starts with a capacity for diverse perspectives. Exposing yourself to new ideas, locations, and cultures gives you a greater appreciation for others. Challenge yourself to learn a new skill or language, travel to a new place, or volunteer for causes outside your usual interests.

Empathy is not about quantity; we tend to empathize most readily with our close circle or those we can easily identify with. Expanding our capacity for empathy means embracing differences beyond our personal experience. Biases, including those based on age, race, and gender often cloud our ability to listen and empathize with others. Examine your personal biases and strive to understand those who are different from you or who face unique challenges.

Empathetic listening is a communication skill that involves staying fully present with the other person, attentively observing both their verbal and non-verbal cues such as body language and tone of voice. To practice empathetic listening, imagine the situation from their perspective. Demonstrate patience and indicate that you understand, even if you disagree. This method not only reduces immediate tension but also enhances collaborative problem-solving as it fosters trust and mutual respect between you. 

If you are interested in having me speak to your organization about how to integrate empathy into your core values and create more cohesive working relationships, feel free to reach out to me via DM or my website Get-Looped.com.