I’ve been doing quite a lot of research and training lately on empathy.
Needless to say, I think it is one of the most important words in existence, and it is even more important to practice it- regardless of your profession. Even the NYPD is teaching empathy in their Smart Policing training for all of their patrol officers (really- see here and here from Commissioner Bratton).
For conflict resolution professionals, and everyone else working with people involved in conflicts and disputes, here’s a short friendly reminder of why empathy is so important:
EMPATHY
“Empathy should not be confused with sympathy,
which indicates pity.
In crisis intervention,
the goal is not to feel sorry for the person in crisis, but to
establish a relationship through effective communication whereby positive steps can be taken toward
resolving the crisis in a collaborative fashion.”
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