Empathy Changes the Way We Work Together

Empathy Changes the Way We Work Together

Empathetic communication builds trust, collaboration, and respect among people. Discover activities you can use with your team, in leadership, and in everyday workplace conversations.

The workplace brings together people with different experiences, working styles, and needs. When we make an effort to understand them, we are more likely to recognize concerns that might otherwise go unspoken and respond to them constructively. Empathy can be shown by inviting a quieter colleague to contribute during a meeting, separating a person’s behavior from judgments about them when giving feedback, and looking for common ground during a conflict. This approach will not eliminate all differences, but it creates the conditions for fairer and more effective collaboration.

Interested in this topic? Read more: Empathy as a personal responsibility: The key to personal and professional growth Want to find out where you stand personally? Take a short test at the end of the page and gain a better understanding.

How does this apply to you? Choose the answers that describe you best:

Imagine that your close friend is going through a tough time, but they are not talking about it directly. How do you respond?

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You see a person who looks upset in public and clearly needs help, but no one else is reacting. What will you do?

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You are working in a team and one colleague is obviously experiencing stress. How do you react?

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Your friend is talking to you about something that is very important to him, but you consider it trivial. How do you react?

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Your acquaintance will make a mistake that could cost him dearly, but you know he can still correct it. How will you let him know?

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How do you react when you see someone crying in public?

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What is your first impulse when someone expresses a completely opposite opinion from yours in a discussion?

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How do you react when someone in the group is excluded from the conversation?

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If you had to describe a person who is closest to you, what qualities would you emphasize?

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Imagine that you could experience the life of someone else for a day. Who would it be and why?

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The ability of empathy

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