Master of Sustainability & Agricultural Food Systems 🍏 Equitable Community-Led Project Management Specialist 🌎 Sustainability & Art Educator 🎨 Butler County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class Graduate 24’🎓
Empathy and sympathy are incredibly different concepts and come with different actions. no one describes empathy quite as well as Brené Brown! “Words rarely make something better. What makes something better is connection.” ❤️ Watch this fantastic video that explains the difference between the two!
Such a great video, deffintely worth watching!
The distinction between empathy and sympathy is so powerful! Sympathy often feels like trying to put a Band-Aid on something, while empathy creates real connection. What are some ways you’ve found helpful to avoid the 'silver lining' trap when someone is sharing something hard with you?
#EmpathyMatters#EmotionalConnection#ActiveListening
Choosing empathy over judging or sympathy can improve the way you relate and respond, not only in the workplace but with strangers, friends and family.
https://lnkd.in/eK6wkV_g
⬆️Here is a quick (very visual)3 min video that you can watch to understand this difference.
Have you seen the RSA short on empathy based on a talk by Brené Brown?
It’s a gem and now 10 years old already. Find the link to watch it below! 🤩
And we wonder if this video will sneak its way into our full Dare to LeadTM program this Fall 2024! Empathy and empathy misses, as well as self-compassion with yourself, certainly have an important place in the curriculum and as skill sets for brave leaders.
#daringleadership#empathy#courage#caring
Diversity & Inclusion Manager @ Conagra Brands | Instructional Design, People Development, Blended Solutions, Program Manager & Facilitation Professional with a passion for continuous learning
If you haven’t seen this video, stop what you are doing right now and go watch it.
This short but incredibly impactful story explains the meaning of empathy in a truly relatable way.
One of my favorite videos! This short video provides such a clear message around empathy (and how it differs from sympathy). It really changed the way I thought about and intentionally practice empathy.
Highly recommend giving it a watch!
Empathy vs Sympathy: "You wanna sandwich?"
I take my understanding of empathy in terms of pre-Brene and post-Brene. There was a time when I think I misunderstood empathy. Then after learning from Brené Brown, I have a better appreciation.
Aspects of Empathy:
🔭 Perspective talking - Accepting that someone else's perspective is what they are really seeing and their truth.
⚖️ Staying out of judgment - How often do we listen to others and go judgy judgy in our minds?
✔️ Recognizing emotions in other people and communicating that - Name what we are seeing.
Empathy is feeling with people. It's "when someone is kinda in a deep hole and they shout out at the bottom and say, 'I'm stuck. It's dark. I'm overwhelmed.' And then, we look and we say 'Hey, I know what it's like down here and you are not alone.'"
Sympathy is going "Ooo, it's bad huh? Errrr, now, you wanna sandwich?" Or anything that begins with "At least..." or trying to sliverline something painful. It's like trying to console someone by being seen as having gone through worse.
In many (if not all cases), when someone shares something painful, all they are looking for is someone to listen and acknowledge that it's tough. Not to one-up pain or give solutions from experience.
Brene changed my understanding of empathy.
If you haven't already seen this classic The RSA (The royal society for arts, manufactures and commerce) Shorts, check it out 👇
Still one of the best tools for explaining empathy! And why is empathy important in business? Because despite the emergence of AI, business is people.
Empathy is at the foundation of partnership, negotiation, and collaboration. It is readily apparent in the policies and culture of companies where people are respected and valued. Empathy allows us to see someone else’s perspective. It motivates, validates, and enlarges all that is good. And it helps us to be better partners, parents, and friends!
Positive leaders show sympathy.
Eeeh - wrong. Sympathy drives disconnect, as words alone don’t fix problems.
Positive leaders live empathy.
Eeeh - rather wrong. Strong empathy wears you out at work. Spare this for your loved ones at home!
Instead, positive leaders should lead with compassion. It’s like Brené’s hugging bear helping depressed foxy climbing up the ladder, back to sunlight without leaving any words. Positive leaders engage with empathy.
Actions count. Words just sound.
