Empathy is the foundation for all my strongest relationships. The ability to connect with other people through their experiences has allowed me to build lasting friendships and recognize the complexity of each individual. It has changed the way I see the world and not take anyone for granted. There have been countless times in my life that practicing empathy has made me a better listener and all around person because putting yourself in someone else's shoes forces you to reframe a problem or situation.
I used to work as a graphic designer for a nonprofit in downtown Denver called The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation. A big part of my job was creating resources for individuals, especially educators, that illustrated ways to teach kindness and empathy and practice them in your daily life. Making these graphics and reading the comments from strangers that followed our social media channels made me recognize the importance of teaching empathy more than anything else.
Software is used by people from all over the world, from a vast range of backgrounds and different learning styles. One of the greatest things about software is that it is built to solve problems and can be utilized to make life easier for those with disabilities. Empathy is the capacity to understand another life perspective and when we practice that in conjunction with building software, so many opportunities are revealed through potential new developments, which can in turn empower individuals to accomplish new things they would've never been able to do otherwise. When we listen to our audiences (the people that would actually be using the software), we can build it with their best interests, ultimately making a better and more effective program.
Empathy is crucial to working on a team because soft skills make hard/technical skills all the more effective. Without collaboration, a mere fraction of the technologies we utilize on a regular basis would be available today. When you're able to effectively communicate with your team, the potential for that team is astronomically higher. Stronger relationships are built, which in turn results in everyone's skillset being properly utilized. We also naturally gain more respect for another person when you sense they are actively listening and cultivating an emotional understanding of a problem or situation. When we understand the "why" behind something, we gain a more complete understanding of what that something is. The key to building an effective work environment is fusing logic with emotion to lead and work with others. An empathetic leadership style results in increased productivity and morale because employees feel more heard.
When I practice empathy while working with others, it opens my eyes to issues that I may have not seen otherwise. Sometimes a new perspective on a problem is all the motivation I need to experiment with new creative approaches. Every single time I have taken on the personal responsibility of better understanding another person and taken their concerns into consideration, I have fostered a better relationship with them as a result. An example from a past life that comes to mind is working with a study group before an exam in college. When we asked each other questions, it deepened our understanding of the material because each individual has a different learning style. When you explain a problem's solution through a different lens, it gives you a new perspective. Moreover, when we asked each other questions, it lessened any stigma associated with asking for help because we all would quickly realize that we could work through issues together without judgment.
When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings? How can you improve your skills when faced with these scenarios?
In the past, I've found it difficult working with someone who is constantly interrupting with their own opinions. In these situations, I've found it's always best to not let frustration get the best of me. Approaching the situation with empathy towards that person and using positive language to communicate frustrations is so important. Tone makes all the difference in whether someone views your feedback defensively or constructively. Additionally, it can be hard when someone in a leadership position cares more about the product than the people. This can be more difficult to deal with because not all managers realize that empathy directly impacts productivity in the workplace. I think an honest, private conversation is the most effective way of addressing the issue.