tips for better communication - series 1: building empathy

Tips for better communication I

How to build empathy!

Tips for better communication: a 4-part series

Series 2: How to listen

Series 3: How to ask

Series 4: How to understand messages

Executive Coach International Pte Ltd – www.liveyourmark.com

To understand other people better, try to put yourself in the position

of others and consider other perspectives.

Empathy begins with Listening, along with Interest, Attention,

Appreciation, and Acceptance.


To be emphatic means putting the other person at the center,

comprehending the background of his or her actions, and getting to know more about that person’s thoughts,

feelings and motivations.

Interrupting the other, or giving well-meant advices is not about being

empathetic.


How can we better develop empathy?


1. Listen actively

Listen to what the other person is saying. Don’t think about what to say next.

Summarize what had been said in your own words.


1. Paraphrase

If I understand you right, it was important to you that…

In your perspective, you…

I hear that in this situation you would like to…


Examples:

2. Ask open questions

Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

The questions have to be able to make the person think.

Responses should be on motives, actions, decision criteria and needs.


2. Ask open questions

How did you proceed?

What do you think would help you with…?

What are your thoughts about this topic?


Examples:

3. Reflect the Emotions

Tell the other person what kind of emotions you have received.

Describe it verbally or ask of the feeling of the other.


3. Reflect the Emotions

So, it made you angry that…

You were afraid of…

You felt discriminated against…


Examples:

Every human wants to be understood and taken seriously. If that doesn’t happen, frustration, disappointment,

and anger or rage may occur.

To act empathic doesn’t mean being able to relate to everything that has

been said, but you try to.

Every person is different and has a different way of thinking and

feeling.


Listen with your heart


Take the other person seriously.

Don’t start to judge his words, actions or

feelings,but leave them next to

your own.

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tips for better communication - series 1: building empathy

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