1: Getting better at getting better is what RiseWithDrew is all about.
Monday through Thursday, we explore ideas from authors, thought leaders, and exemplary organizations. On Friday, I share something about myself or what we are working on at PCI.
One of my goals for the year is to experiment with different approaches and tools to strengthen my relationships with the people I love and care about.
We will revisit ideas from prior RiseWithDrew posts on this topic for the next several Fridays.
2: Empathy is a magic ingredient. Add it, and everyone and everything improves.
The research shows that patients are more likely to follow their doctor’s recommendations if their doctor scores high on empathy. Marriages are happier when the partners are empathic. Those who practice empathy are less anxious and less stressed.
Empathy involves withholding judgment, taking the other person’s perspective, recognizing emotion in others, and communicating that back.
3: Emotional Intelligence author Daniel Goleman tells us there are three types of empathy that originate from different parts of our brain.
“Cognitive empathy” involves understanding the what and the why of what the other person is experiencing. We understand their perspective, how they see the situation, and what they are feeling.
Think: “walk a mile in their shoes.”
“Emotional empathy” is when we feel the same feelings the other person is feeling, which involves the social part of our brain. We sense their emotions around what has happened.
Think: rapport, chemistry. We become upset ourselves. This type of empathy requires us to focus entirely on the other person.
“Empathic concern” involves not just what someone feels but also includes wanting to help. We have a deep desire for their well-being to improve.
Think: a parent’s love for a child. We will be there for them.
The best interactions involve all three types of empathy.
So many good outcomes arise from empathy. Unfortunately, but perhaps not surprisingly, research suggests empathy is on the decline.
More next week.
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Reflection: Which of the three types of empathy do I feel most often? How could I benefit from increasing the other forms of empathy?
Action: Look for an opportunity to be empathetic today.
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