Empathy as a vital skill

Empathy is sometimes perceived as something you know well and that would be great to have. However, empathy is more than that - it is a fundamental skill, a life methodology vital to committing to not just hearing what people are saying but also understanding the why behind it. 

Engaging today’s leaders and future generations in empathy-driven dialogue seeds a powerful habit of approaching all conversations with understanding and respect. By building empathy, we create a ripple effect, fostering more inclusive and constructive interactions. It also enables a broader cultural shift toward more constructive, respectful, and inclusive conversations across various spheres.

“Empathy is the listener's effort to hear the other person deeply, accurately, and non-judgmentally. Empathy involves skillful reflective listening that clarifies and amplifies the person's own experiencing and meaning, without imposing the listener's own material.”

- Carl Rogers, American Psychologist, “A Way of Being”

EMPATHY

Encourages communicators to approach dialogue and differences with genuine curiosity and an intention to understand what lies beneath the surface for each person – the personal context.

Enhances communicators' ability to respect diverse perspectives, even in disagreement, and recognize these views stem from thought processes shaped by social norms, biases, emotions, and experiences, just like their own.

  • Empathy as perspective-taking

    When you attempt to ‘take on the perspective’ of others, you learn to see the world through their lens and gain a better understanding of how those filters have been shaped by a unique combination of personal experiences.

    This awareness empowers you to choose your words carefully and adapt your communication and collaboration with others.