Our Areas of Expertise
Empathy
This Moment Calls for Greater Empathy in the Workplace
We are contending with a range of challenges in the workplace at this moment. From increased mental health issues, to tension caused by geopolitical conflict, to conflicting mindsets about how to work, all of this gives rise to a greater need to cultivate empathy in the workplace – so that, together, leaders and team members can experience deeper connection, compassion, and belonging.
Defining Empathy in the Workplace
Empathy is the act of being aware of, understanding, and experiencing our team members’ feelings and thoughts. It’s about putting ourselves “into the shoes” of our colleagues so that we deeply connect with their feelings, perspectives, and experiences – and then use this understanding to adjust and adapt our own behaviors. Empathy has several components, which we explore in detail during bci’s empathy training sessions.
The Importance of Cultivating Empathy at Work
When we focus on centering empathy in our team interactions, we help to foster psychological safety, build bridges across differences, cultivate team understanding, address and heal team conflict, enhance team cohesion, and increase engagement. Ultimately, practicing empathy in the workplaces helps to unlock a sense of belonging in the workplace.
Practicing Empathy in the Workplace Will Make You a Stronger Leader
Practicing empathy in the workplace is important for all team members – but especially leaders and, in particular, executive leaders. As leaders, we want to ensure that, through our verbal and non-verbal communications, we signal that we respect, honor, and care about our team members – and that we are committed to creating a supportive work environment, one that’s rooted in belonging. At the end of the day, an empathetic leader drives organizational success through enhanced morale and collaboration.
Why Choose bci for Empathy Training
bci’s empathy training is a central component of our leadership offerings. Using practical, science-based skill building strategies, we offer leaders and team members practical tools and approaches to grow empathy skills in the workplace. We are also able to customize our empathy training to connect it with other leadership skills areas like belonging, psychological safety, holding difficult conversations, and addressing workplace issues relating to political and geopolitical conflict.
Our empathy training focuses on the following areas:
Key steps for developing and applying empathy skills in the workplace
Techniques for cultivating empathy in challenging situations
Approaches to maintaining emotional resilience while demonstrating empathy
Strategies for integrating empathy into daily team interactions
Applying a cultural competence and DEI lens to being an empathetic leader
Did You Know?
Empathy isn’t about agreement.
Many believe that in order to practice empathy, we must agree with someone else’s perspective, opinion, or actions. But this isn’t true. Empathy necessitates holding a deep understanding of why someone feels the way they do – but empathy doesn’t require agreement.
We want to build the capacity to hold space and witness our team members’ perspectives, even while holding opposing views.
In doing so, we’re able to foster mutual respect, hold healthy but difficult conversations, and cultivate belonging – even in the face of differing opinions.
All of bci’s empathy training can be offered virtually or in-person.
Empathy Resources
Want to shift leadership, cultivate belonging, grow empathy,
and unlock psychological safety in your workplace?
Contact us to learn how we can help.
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