Empathy in Action: Part I
We’ve all been there. Life changes, work changes, and unexpected moments that have altered our perspective. Change always seems to be the one absolute in life when it comes to personal/professional growth. Despite changes that we encounter on a daily basis, the one absolute that lives on is the principle of “just keep moving”.
As we entertain life changes, it’s important to remember that we’re all going through something at any point in life. No one is immune to change and if I learned one key thing from our pandemic experiences, it was to lean into empathy to better understand change and to be a support system for others who may be going through a new and challenging change.
Empathy is defined as “the ability to understand and share the feelings of others.” The usage of empathy can be both a superpower and a trait that allows you to walk a mile or more in someone else’s shoes. The skill of empathy has meant a lot to me over the past few years and I wanted to share a few insights I’ve gained on the benefits of empathy.
1. Authenticity/Genuineness – One of my favorite quotes from Maya Angelou is “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” When you share empathy and understanding of others, you’re known and seen as both authentic and genuine. Our gut never lies and we can all remember a time when someone attempted to utilize empathy to support us, and then came across as someone who was all about themselves. If you take the opportunity to stay curious, ask thoughtful questions, and listen more than you speak, empathy will ensure that your relatability will be seen in a positive light and others will remember how you touched their heart!
2. A Picture Says 1,000 Words – Empathy is something I’ve always seemed to gravitate towards in life, however, I didn’t realize that I was actually using empathy until more recently. The moments in life where I was able to be truly present and observe others, you can draw so many potential conclusions to how someone is feeling by their non-verbal facial expressions, the tone of their voice, and how they respond when you ask questions. When we’re able to practice slowing down in life, we see and feel so much more of what’s going around us and can respond in a positive manner when others come to us for support.
3. We’re All in This Together! – Following the pandemic, I realized that I had become closer to both my work and home families as we embraced the daily, weekly, and monthly challenges in a truly unknown future state. My home family has always been my #1 and the thing that sets them apart when it comes to empathy is that both my wife and kids have continued to support me in life through the positive and challenging moments. They also have leaned into empathy without even knowing it. Whether it’s a lighthearted moment at home, a deep conversation to actively listen to my daily recap, or well-timed compliment, they empathize with so many of my needs by being themselves and accepting me for who I am. My work family is the most genuine set of colleagues I could ask for. They are always there to ask what I need, drop everything to help, and have that extra conversation during the day that may lower my anxiety and keep work life “real”. Empathy is behind their support, among many other kind gestures that have helped me be the best version of myself on a daily basis. I’m grateful for personal/professional support and am glad that empathy has driven my life journey!
My challenge to you this week is to recognize those times where the most important people in your life (personally/professionally) may need a conversation, a positive lift up, or a simple compliment. Use empathy often and know you can change the world, one person at a time!
Keep growing and know that I truly believe in you!
Ryan