Empathy Leading to a Co-Created Action – George Couros

I have been reading the book “Persuasion The Artwork of Influencing People” by James Borg and have been enjoying it.  

This portion exactly where he defines “empathy” and then provides illustrations resonated:

“Empathy is the capability to determine and have an understanding of the other person’s experience, strategies and circumstance.”

It’s listening with your coronary heart as perfectly as your head. It is the ability to study thoughts in others. It’s becoming equipped to expertise one more person’s perspective. It is the next greatest matter to the powers of ESP and looking through minds.

James Borg

As I browse on, right here is a single component that struck me in thinking about empathy:

Now there are two methods that I am wondering about how I interpret this passage:

1. Is empathy actually about knowledge persons so, in switch, they can also better fully grasp our position of perspective?

or…

2. Is empathy about understanding persons so we can come across techniques to persuade them to our place of check out?

This is where by I am battling.

Much too typically, we consider about empathy as a way to improved realize what other people want and then, in switch, try out to encourage them of our determination for their wants.

It is the notion of, “I take pleasure in you sharing your viewpoint, but now I am going to make your mind up for you.”

Of training course, as a mother or father, there are periods when I do my greatest to fully grasp my youngsters, and I make decisions dependent on what I think is ideal for them. Maybe that is empathy in some variety.

Empathy is not only about comprehension some others but making certain they have company in the options staying created. 

Empathy really should not only be about knowledge voice but should really generally lead to a co-developed action ahead.

The most embraced solutions to any trouble are kinds where by voice was not only heard and comprehended, but also acted on.