Empathy is different from sympathy. The latter is about feeling concern and pity for others in positions we have not been in ourselves. The former on the other hand, is about experiencing the emotion of another person. The build up of empathy goes back to childhood with key behaviours getting attached from parents. A nurturing trait common to all people emerges out of this empathy. Empathy can be used to improve productivity in any organization. It can help in talent management as people best connect with empathetic leaders. These leaders establish a working environment where people can easily share their fears, hopes and aspirations. Empathy is also contagious, so spreads throughout any organization. Some leaders on the opposite end believe that in competitive environments, empathy need not be encouraged. However, resisting it is akin to denying a very basic tenet in human behavior.

Source:https://knowledge.insead.edu/blog/insead-blog/why-empathy-makes-for-stronger-organisations-4815

Uploaded Date:14 February 2018