Flip the Script: Empathy in the workplace
Executive summary
Empathy is a critical future-of-work skill that fosters connection and is linked to enhanced morale and team collaboration;1 anyone can build this skill with practice, motivation, and intention to get it right. However, misunderstandings are common about what empathy is, what it isn’t, and how to improve it. Researchers show that efforts to build empathy can backfire if done without considering how power dynamics, culture, and our own biases can stifle our ability to truly understand others’ perspectives.2
Practice building your empathy skills in three ways—cognitively (head/thinking), emotionally (heart/feeling), and behaviorally (action/doing)—to form stronger bonds with team members, learn from others’ experiences, and foster an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive.3
How to cite this product: Flip the script: Empathy in the workplace. (March 15, 2021). Catalyst.