Maxscores/Stackhouse1710-bGearUp.txt

## Stackhouse1710-bGearUp.txt
1) What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?
I feel the biggest affect empathy has on my life is bringing me closer to those around me. Being able to understand what others are feeling
and put myself in their situation makes me a kinder human. I feel that empathy has helped me, because it is the foundation for understanding
others and being closer to them. Although, there are times where I haven't felt empathetic, which feels odd. It is difficult to understand
why that happens, but it may have something to do with protecting myself as suggested in the article "Three Kinds of Empathy"

2) How does empathy help you build better software?
Being empathetic to the user and how they may feel confused and/or lost in our software is crutial. Too often it seems that technical folks
tend to be un-empathetic to those that struggle to grasp concepts that are seen as easy to the technically minded. Being able to understand
the challenges and emotions of the people using the software can greatly increase their experience. Additionally, being empathetic to the
struggles may drive the designers to focus on the humans that are using it, rather than how they can make money off of it.

3) Why is empathy important for working on a team?
Empathy seems to be the cornerstone of teamwork. Without it, one cannot see from other's perspectives and thus cannot understand their
decisions. I feel like the most important part is being able to help their team members when necessary. A team cannot succeed if there
are people left behind and empathy is the tool to guide those decisions.

4) Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.
The times were I've felt that empathy has helped out my team is when I can relate to a feeling that disrupts their performance. At my most
recent job, I had a team member that tended to feel overwhelmed at times. I've felt the same way before and know how hard it can be to
focus and produce well when it feels like the task is outside my skill level. By empathizing with their situation it was easier to see
how to help them, not by doing the job for them, but by reinforcing their confidence and guiding them to feeling less overwhelmed with
the project.

5) When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings? How can you improve your skills when faced with
   these scenarios?
I feel lik the hardest times to be empathetic is when I dislike the other person or when they don't treat me well at other times. It is
very difficult to get past the feelings of schadenfreude in these cases, but ultimately it needs to happen. I believe the best way to
deal with these feelings are to remember that we're all human and don't always handle each situation correctly. Now, that doesn't mean
that I won't try to distance myself from those people, but sometimes there is no option for that.
	1) What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?
	I feel the biggest affect empathy has on my life is bringing me closer to those around me. Being able to understand what others are feeling
	and put myself in their situation makes me a kinder human. I feel that empathy has helped me, because it is the foundation for understanding
	others and being closer to them. Although, there are times where I haven't felt empathetic, which feels odd. It is difficult to understand
	why that happens, but it may have something to do with protecting myself as suggested in the article "Three Kinds of Empathy"

	2) How does empathy help you build better software?
	Being empathetic to the user and how they may feel confused and/or lost in our software is crutial. Too often it seems that technical folks
	tend to be un-empathetic to those that struggle to grasp concepts that are seen as easy to the technically minded. Being able to understand
	the challenges and emotions of the people using the software can greatly increase their experience. Additionally, being empathetic to the
	struggles may drive the designers to focus on the humans that are using it, rather than how they can make money off of it.

	3) Why is empathy important for working on a team?
	Empathy seems to be the cornerstone of teamwork. Without it, one cannot see from other's perspectives and thus cannot understand their
	decisions. I feel like the most important part is being able to help their team members when necessary. A team cannot succeed if there
	are people left behind and empathy is the tool to guide those decisions.

	4) Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.
	The times were I've felt that empathy has helped out my team is when I can relate to a feeling that disrupts their performance. At my most
	recent job, I had a team member that tended to feel overwhelmed at times. I've felt the same way before and know how hard it can be to
	focus and produce well when it feels like the task is outside my skill level. By empathizing with their situation it was easier to see
	how to help them, not by doing the job for them, but by reinforcing their confidence and guiding them to feeling less overwhelmed with
	the project.

	5) When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings? How can you improve your skills when faced with
	these scenarios?
	I feel lik the hardest times to be empathetic is when I dislike the other person or when they don't treat me well at other times. It is
	very difficult to get past the feelings of schadenfreude in these cases, but ultimately it needs to happen. I believe the best way to
	deal with these feelings are to remember that we're all human and don't always handle each situation correctly. Now, that doesn't mean
	that I won't try to distance myself from those people, but sometimes there is no option for that.