Mod 0 Gear Up

gistfile1.txt

What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?

``Empathy plays a huge role in my life. From work problems to traffic disputes, I find that empathy helps me move through the world
in a more generous and relaxed way. Whenever I feel a burst of anger at a perceived slight I try to remind myself 
that the person I am focused on is a human being, that they might have a difficult life, that them flipping me off on the highway
is probably not personal. I find that empathy reduces stress, and helps me build and maintain friendships. It also helps me 
approach conflict in a more productive way. I have also benefitted tremendously from the empathy others have shown me.``

How does empathy help you build better software?

``If you have the ability to think about how other people feel about or interact with your product, then you can make it better
suit their needs. If you want people of many different physical and neurological abilities to be able
to use your software then you have to think about what it is like for them to interface with it. This might mean having to add features
that you might not have otherwise thought to add, but which will allow all kind of people to use your software. Empathy gives us the a
ability to design technology that will have a positice impact on the world``

Why is empathy important for working on a team?

``Empathy is extremely important for working on a team. It helps you listen to everyone and their ideas. If you are too
focused on having it all your way, you could miss out on some valuable contribution from someone else. It is also importasnt
for creating a positive working environment. If someone is having trouble or unable to complete something, it is more useful to
try and understand why than it is to pass immediate judgement on them. ``

Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.
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 was working on a political campaign and one of my interns was having a lot of difficulty keeping up with basic tasks like 
sending out mailers. Initially I was frustrated, but then I realized that she was just very young. This was her first job and she
hadn't had much need to use snail mail in her life. I took a bit of extra time with her and she ended up doing fine. If I had 
chosen to act on my frustration and belittle her it would have created an environment of intimidation. Not only is this not good
for productivity, it is not in line with my ethics. 
I find it the hardest to empathize when someone is being rude or angry. I think the best way for me to deal with this is
to take some space and then try to have a conversation with them about how I feel once we both have calmed down.``