Quick Tips for Developing Empathy – Incorporating Them Into Staff Training Yields Rewards!

Quick Tips for Developing Empathy – Incorporating Them Into Staff Training Yields Rewards!

Empathy is an emotional and thinking muscle that becomes stronger the more we use it. Here are a few practical tips to consider. You can use them during communication skills training, or share them with your colleagues to lend them a hand!

•    Listen – truly listen to people. Listen with your ears, eyes and heart. Pay attention to others’ body language, to their tone of voice, to the hidden emotions behind what they are saying to you, and to the context.

•    Don’t interrupt people. Don’t dismiss their concerns offhand. Don’t rush to give advice. Don’t change the subject. Allow people to have their moment.

•    Tune in to non-verbal communication. This is the way that people often communicate what they think or feel, even when their verbal communication says something quite different.

•  Embrace the “93% rule” in your communication. According to a renowned study by Professor Emeritus, Albert Mehrabian of UCLA, when expressing emotions and attitudes, the words we use only contribute to 7% of the overall message received by people. The remaining 93% is conveyed through our tone of voice and body language. Therefore, it’s crucial to take the time to grasp how we present ourselves while communicating our feelings and attitudes to others.

•    Make an effort to learn and use people’s name. Also remember the names of people’s spouse and children so that you can refer to them by name.

•    Be fully present when you are with people. Don’t check your email, look at your watch or take phone calls when a direct report drops into your office to talk to you. Put yourself in their shoes. How would you feel if someone did that to you?

•    Smile at people. This will also boost your own self-esteem and your immune system!

•    Encourage people, particularly the quiet ones, when they speak up in meetings. A simple thing like an attentive nod can boost people’s confidence.

•    Give genuine recognition and praise. Pay attention to what people are doing and catch them doing the right things. When you give praise, spend a little effort to make your genuine words memorable: “You are an asset to this team because..”; “This was pure genius”; “I would have missed this if you hadn’t picked it up.”

•    Take a personal interest in people. Show people that you care, and genuine curiosity about their lives. Ask them questions about their hobbies, their challenges, their families, their aspirations.

Can Empathy Be Learned? A Valuable Aspect for Staff Training!

Updated July 24th 2023

Extensive research consistently demonstrates a direct correlation between empathy and business success and profitability. Numerous studies have linked empathy to increased sales, superior performance among top managers in product development teams, and overall enhanced organisational performance. Consequently, companies are now actively seeking new recruits who exhibit healthy levels of empathy. Although empathy may be considered a soft and abstract skill in an individual’s repertoire, its impact can yield tangible, concrete results. Naturally empathetic individuals, adept at fostering positive connections with others, utilise empathy to build trust and establish strong bonds. Conversely, a lack of empathy often leads to organisational bullying, employee and team distress, and difficulties in selling and retaining clients.

Can empathy be developed in employees to increase sales and improve teamwork? Well, I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that it is indeed possible to teach someone to be empathetic. However, the bad news is that the process requires their willingness to learn, as it demands dedicated practice and commitment to master effectively.

Many individuals find the requirement to be empathetic deeply uncomfortable, but for the majority, it is a skill that can be acquired and developed with time. Of course, some people may lack the capacity to experience empathy due to adverse early-life experiences and insecure attachment to primary caregivers, or due to certain brain and genetic disorders. However, for most people, cultivating empathy is entirely feasible. The benefits of nurturing empathy are significant: as you practice it, your relationships improve, and you develop a desire to continue honing this skill. Empathizing with others’ perspectives enables smoother conflict resolution, reducing the likelihood of disputes. Considering the immense advantages, is prioritising the development of empathy in staff training worth it? We think so!