Empathy In The Workplace: How To Build Positive Relationships
I will be the first to admit how emotionally exhausting it is to work with people. 8 hours, 5 days. So many different personalities.
But in a fast-paced culture, it’s just as easy to overlook the most important asset we possess: empathy. It’s the cornerstone of productivity, blending the relationship between communication and collaboration.
It’s important to acknowledge the differences in ideas and experiences. Empathy is a tool that fosters healthy relationships and trust in the decision-making process. So how do we infuse it into our daily lives?
Active Listening
My director has always stressed the importance of processing words, versus just hearing them. Especially when doing client-facing tasks, validating emotions reflects empathy and shows engagement in the communication. It’s as simple as keeping an eye gaze or saying “I understand your frustration in this”.
Open Dialogue
Being able to create a safe space to express opinions and ideas invites room for new ideas and ways of thinking. No one person has the same experiences, and we would be vain to think that we are not able to learn from others. This demonstrates personal interest in one’s experiences and also provides a deeper insight into one’s experiences.
Providing Support
Working in a dynamic environment allows opportunities for mistakes and learning. Being able to offer support or guidance shows that we are not only colleagues but also allies. It’s important to be invested in your own success as well as others’ accomplishments; that is camaraderie.
Positive Reinforcements
Your power is not weakened when congratulating someone on an accomplishment or boosting someone’s confidence. Creating a positive atmosphere for your team creates excitement for problem-solving and goal-setting.
BFFR: Be Fucking For Real
People are smart and there is no point in bullshitting. Management- set realistic expectations for your team that are worth celebrating. However, if an employee is having issues understanding the goals, make sure you can clear up gaps in the communication.
There is an endless number of ways to show empathy in your environment; mindfulness in tone and language ends up being one that is often overlooked as well.
Research firm, Catalyst, describes empathy to be a factor of two things: (1) understanding others’ feelings and perspectives, and (2) force for innovation when demonstrating intention and care. As a result, once you start implementing these strategies, your team will show an increased sense of pride in their work, making it easier to grow and adjust through changes.
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