Empathy...what is it and why do we need it?

Written By Jonah Cacioppe

Empathy is a key component of Emotional Intelligence. It has measurable business benefits too – in the 2015 Global Empathy Index, the top 10 companies increased their value more than twice as much as the bottom 10, and brought in 50% more earnings.

But what is empathy?

Where Sympathy is largely used to convey commiseration, pity, or feelings of sorrow for someone who is experiencing misfortune, Empathy is putting yourself in the shoes of another. Empathy is…

  • Perspective-taking

  • Staying out of judgement

  • Recognising emotion

  • Communicating emotion

Watch this short video clip (about 2.5 minutes long) to get deeper understanding of what empathy really is and why it’s important.​

The next time someone talks to you about feeling angry, overwhelmed, upset, or a similar emotion, try to listen empathically.Really set aside your judgement and put yourself in their shoes.How do you show that you have REALLY heard them?

Jonah Cacioppe
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