Although empathy skills originate in the right side of the brain, it is not entirely an emotive character trait. Empathy, in its very essence, is a crucial building block of any type of human relationship.
The development of empathy skills is a topic that we cover on our Certificate in Conflict Management, which is just one of our management and leadership skills courses London , Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Several widely referenced and respected studies have supported empathy skills’ crucial role in sustaining healthy human relationship dynamics. One such study was conducted by Dr. Antonio Damasio who, in his book entitled “Descartes’ Error: Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain”, revealed that medical patients who have incurred irreparable damage to the side of their brain attributed to empathy are more likely to experience incapacity to maintain human relationship, that is despite their unharmed cognitive faculties.
Empathy skills are truly invaluable. Especially within the context of businesses or organisations wherein key players are expected to foster mutual trust and confidence with internal and external customers, as well as other stakeholders, empathy skills become a practical necessity. Empathy allows an individual to identify with other people’s motives, proclivities, and situations. This competence in turn leads to an augmented “people acumen” which is vital to decision making and other organisational functions. Several studies have even pointed out empathy skills’ direct correlation with employee performance enhancement, product innovation and development, and eventually, sales development.
Here are a few tips to hone one’s empathy skills. To develop your skills, please enquire about our leadership and management skills courses Manchester , Birmingham, Exeter, London, Newcastle and Glasgow.
• Listen. By listening we do not simply mean hearing words and statements. Listening for empathy skills development entails sensitivity toward other communication cues—specifically non-verbal manifestations—so as to gain enough awareness on what the other person is actually saying, and from which conceptual or emotional context the person is coming.
• Avoid communication roadblocks. This is especially crucial to leaders and managers who sometimes fall prey to the assumption that their accumulated expertise merits them with unrivaled awareness and augmented sensibilities on any given topic. Some of these individuals tend to cut the communication line by providing unsolicited advice, changing subject, and even premature dismissal of issues seen as trivial. Empathy skills development is largely compromised in these situations.
• Remember important details about people. It is crucial to address colleagues and clients by their names. Furthermore, one’s sense of familiarity toward another should not be limited to job or business related topics, getting to know other people’s interests, familial background, and other “human matters” elevates one’s level of empathy toward these people.
• Give time. When engaged in human interaction, whether prompted by personal or business concerns, it is imperative to be present not just physically. Emotional presence is of better value especially when empathy skills are to be exhausted.
• Congeniality is necessary. Smiling is never overrated. A lot can be resolved and reaffirmed by a simple, yet genuine smile.
• Be encouraging and supportive. Leaders and managers who manifest unwavering dedication toward chronically shy or non-participative employees are definitely equipped with genuine empathy skills since they duly recognise that these individuals who tend to avoid attention are in need of a simple pat on the back or a confidence boost.
• Praise and recognise people without being patronising. This can be done by showing genuine interest in people and their respective roles and responsibilities.
In layman’s words, empathy skills mean putting oneself in another person’s shoes. These shoes may not be entirely comfortable, but there lies the challenge.
Tagged: change management training, communication skills, effective communication skills, effective communication skills training courses, emotional intelligence training courses, leadership and management training courses, LEADERSHIP SKILLS, leadership training courses, leadership training courses London, management courses, management courses Birmingham, management courses Bristol, management courses Exeter, management courses Glasgow, management courses London, management courses Manchester, management courses Newcastle, management skills, management skills training courses, management training courses, NLP training courses, performance management training courses London or Birmingham or Glasgow, Self-Esteem, self-management skills training courses
