What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?
It has allowed me to see things from others perspectives. Recognizing what I prioritize it not necessarily what others prioritize and that their options and prioritization are still valid.
How does empathy help you build better software?
Software fulfills a need. When creating products you must understand the needs of the users. You must also understand the capabilities and limitations of users as well. Empathy will also allow me to anticipate my clients need, that hey are going to want as next steps and solutions, solving their problems, possible in advance of them identifying them.
Why is empathy important for working on a team?
Empathy allows for better understand of the needs of people around you. This is essential when working on a team. It gives you a clear understanding of how your actions affect others. This is especially valuable when working in team situations. Empathy equips you with the ability to deal with interpersonal conflict and will help you predict the behaviors of others. In short, empathy creates and enhances teamwork.
Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.
I was working with a David, a college and our project deadline had been moved up from two weeks to three days. The change in deadlines was out of our control. David’s frustration level was through the roof. He attitude went sour and out team production was bottoming out. We had many projects an we didn’t seem to have enough time to do them. Acknowledging David’s frustration and recognizing that it was at the project and not us, the rest of the co-workers allow me to talk him off his proverbial cliff and get him to prioritize the current projects we had. We made nine out of the ten deadlines.
When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings? How can you improve your skills when faced with these scenarios?
Professionally, I find it most difficult to be empathetic when I have to deliver bad news. When terminating a persons position I find myself being very detached. Almost as if I am watching myself give the bad news to an individual. I have spoken to a few individuals after I have had to tell that their employment was terminated at the company I was working for and they all said that I was sympathetic and understanding and as gentle as I could be but that isn’t how I felt. I think that I am using cognitive empathy and am trying to avoid compassionate and emotional empathy while doing more distasteful parts of my jobs.