Empathy is a skill that both bosses and employees can use to make and keep the workplace safe, healthy, and open to teamwork. So, how can we put empathy into practice? And what is it anyway?
According to psychology, having empathy means putting yourself in someone else's shoes to understand their point of view. Being empathetic in Filipino is called "pakikiramay," which also means to care about someone, or "kapwa."
Virgilio Enriquez, the founder of Filipino psychology, refers to this inclusivity as Kapwa. When we hear the word Kapwa, it indicates recognizing yourself and your shared identity with others, which instills in us a sense of obligation to treat one another with respect and equality. Belongingness is the same in any community; when we feel included and understood, it promotes an enjoyable environment.
Empathy might be difficult for us to develop in our culture. We can demonstrate our caring and concern for others in a very curious way. Empathy for others can drive movement and social causes at times, but it can also manifest itself in improper behavior such as gossiping in an attempt to comprehend other people's situations. Additionally, given how challenging it is to understand another person's perspective in and of itself, the latter may be more obvious in some employment situations.
One of the transitions we experience when we enter the workforce as adults is interacting with a variety of people and working together to achieve departmental and/or organizational goals. When we consider how others are feeling and remind ourselves that they might be going through something, we can choose to respond with kindness rather than judgment, which is one way that empathy can help us through any difficulties we may encounter. The practice of empathy in our workplace can help us talk better to each other, make more personal and professional ties, and do our jobs better.
Not only is this practice good in onsite workplaces, but hybrid work setups can also benefit from the practice of empathy. This work arrangement has become popular since the pandemic and may continue to be the standard for some organizations. Furthermore, taking a hybrid approach at work may be difficult, but knowing and believing that your boss and coworkers understand you makes a difference.
Navigating the world of employment is difficult, but it is doable. Here are some steps you, as a leader or employee, could take to improve your workplace:
Offer workshops and training for personal growth
Programs and workshops that help your employees and coworkers develop their hobbies and keep learning are a great way to show your support for your team. Although we are also working, it is important that our workplace has activities that give people different ways to unwind.
Check-in with your team regularly to find out if they require assistance and what their professional or personal objectives are.
Leaders should check in with their team members to see if they are having a hard time. With this information, you can also make changes and offer help to make everyone's work easier. To accomplish this, you can have individual or group sessions with your team.
Checking in with your team can also help you spot signs of burnout among your coworkers, such as failing to meet goals or working together as a team. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, you can work with your HR staff to come up with a plan for handling it.
Encourage open communication among workers.
One way to make them feel included and supported at work is to make sure they know they can talk to you about their problems. Intentional communication can help you reach your goal, even though it's not an easy job. Feeling heard can change the work environment.
Display compassion after a personal loss.
Everyone loses someone close to them, so it's best to be kind when this happens. A colleague who is grieving needs to know that you are there for them during this difficult time, whether you are a boss or just a coworker.
Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that even if you are empathetic at work, you still set limits and exercise accountability. Allowing others to push your limits, caring too much about their problems, and missing important tasks are not ways to show empathy.
The workplace can be hard to change, but it is possible with hard work and consistency. One way for the workplace to do well is to find a balance between empathy and responsibility. At Empath, we want to help you make the changes you want in your company. Please email us at partnerships@empath.ph with any questions.
References:
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