[This article is part of the monthly Communicate Smarter: Your Guide to Better Work Conversations series from Public Affairs and Stakeholder Management.]
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It’s about putting yourself in their shoes. When you practice empathy at work, you connect better with colleagues, build trust, and create a more supportive team environment. It helps you anticipate needs and respond thoughtfully.
How to practice empathy:
- Listen deeply: Don’t just listen to the words but try to understand the emotions behind them. What might this person be feeling? Why might they be feeling that way?
- Ask “why?”: If someone seems upset or stressed, gently ask them why. “Is everything okay?” or “Is there something bothering you about this project?”
- Imagine their situation: If a coworker misses a deadline, instead of judging, try to think, “What might be happening in their work life or personal life that would cause this?”
- Validate feelings: You don’t have to agree with someone’s actions to understand their feelings. You can say, “I can see why you’d feel frustrated when that happens.”
- Offer support: Once you understand, consider if there’s a practical way you can help or support them. Sometimes, just listening is enough.
Your action steps: Put it into practice!
- Observe a colleague: Today, choose one colleague and try to observe their body language and tone. Can you guess how they might be feeling about a particular task or situation?
- Practice “what if…”: Before reacting to a situation, pause and ask yourself, “What if I were in their position? How would I feel or react?”
- Offer a kind word: If you notice someone struggling, offer a simple, empathetic statement like, “This seems like a tough day. Is there anything I can do?”
The Emotional Intelligence in Communication Toolkit has more information for you, including an emotional vocabulary, self-assessment, and activities and exercises to build your EQ. You can find this and other communications resources on the Communicating Effectively wiki on UCOR Hub.
