by Benjamin Wann (Author)
Empathy is a valuable trait to possess and can make you an outstanding person or leader in your field of study and profession. Empathy is the ability to understand and share feelings without having experienced that situation or event directly. The end goal of empathy is to create connections at a fundamental level, which makes people more likely to work together toward a common goal.
For professionals who find empathy doesn't come naturally, there is good news- Empathy is a skill that can be learned and strengthened. Given enough time and support (such as coaching, training, and other development opportunities), nearly everyone can learn to be more empathetic. While challenging for some, there are many ways we can develop this skill.
To develop empathy, you must first practice being aware of others' emotions and then put yourself in their shoes so that you can feel what they are feeling. Always aim to see things from someone else's perspective. If you want people around you or those who work with you to show more compassion toward each other, then make sure that you set an example by practicing this yourself.
You can build empathy by engaging meaningfully with others, being aware of other people's needs, and being kind to others and yourself. With just two phrases, developing empathy means being aware and to actually care.
