Empathy has helped me in many ways throughout my life. I feel like it consistantly keeps my ego in check. It helps me in understanding where other people are coming from. As well as making me feel like I should count my blessings and help other people.
Empathy helps build better software in several ways. Practices such as "Cognitive Empathy" and "Active Listening" can help in a negotiation or team motivation. "Emotional Empathy" could be useful in building a better product for the end user. Ultimately, empathy makes for a better work environments, thus making a better finished product.
Empathy is critical for working on a team in several ways. "Active listening" can help with team motivation as well as communication. "Compassionate empathy" can be used to keep the team bond strong. But most importantly, practicing empathy in a team is very effective when giving and recieving feedback. It is important not to take critiques personally, and to be kind when giving feedback to your teammates.
At my last job, tensions were often high, and practicing empathy was the greatest way to dissolve tension. I would listen to the employees concerns and find ways to try to make there jobs easier and more streamlined. This led to greater productivity and a better relationship with the employees. It made many of them not afraid to come to me with their problems.
When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings? How can you improve your skills when faced with these scenarios?
The hardest times for me to be empathetic is when a coworker is being unneccesarily mean or hard on another coworker. I know that this is generally coming from a place of personal issues and self-conciousness. But I have a hard time when people go on the attack. I feel through breathing exercises and taking a moment to have my best response, I wont get so frustrated so quickly.