Empathy
Sensing someone's emotions, being able to imagine what they are thinking and feeling, and using it for good.
Sensing someone's emotions, being able to imagine what they are thinking and feeling, and using it for good.
Under Skilled
Struggles to notice when others are upset.
Rarely acknowledges others' feelings.
Avoids emotional conversations.
Misinterprets emotions as personal attacks.
Ignores the emotional climate in groups.
Uses blunt language without considering impact.
Unaware of their own emotional state.
Shows little interest in others' perspectives.
Rarely moved by others' emotional experiences.
Dismisses the importance of emotional intelligence.
Fails to comfort others in distress.
Disregards others' emotional reactions as irrelevant.
Often talks over others without listening to concerns.
Shows impatience with emotional expressions.
Only gives practical solutions to emotional needs.
Highly Skilled
Notices subtle emotional changes in others.
Consistently acknowledges and validates feelings.
Engages meaningfully in emotional conversations.
Understands emotions are often not about them.
Sensitive to group dynamics and moods.
Chooses words carefully to respect feelings.
Aware of emotions and how they impact others.
Actively imagines and respects others’ perspectives.
Often moved and motivated by others' emotions.
Values and cultivates emotional intelligence.
Listens actively, providing space for others to vent.
Offers comfort and support to others in distress.
Responds w/o imposing own feelings onto others.
Balances emotional connection with objectivity.
Adapts comm. style to emotional states of others.
Over Skilled
Over-analyzes every emotional cue from others.
Prioritizes others' emotions over practical needs.
Forces emotional conversations too frequently.
Over-identifies with others, ignoring boundaries.
Overly focuses on group emotions, stifling task focus.
Avoids necessary truths to keep peace.
Overwhelmed by self-awareness and self-scrutiny.
Assumes to fully understand others' experiences.
Feels responsible for fixing others' emotional issues.
Views emotional intelligence as the only skill needed.
Gets involved in every issue, regardless of context.
May neglect own needs to focus excessively on others.
Tries to resolve everyone's issues, even if not asked.
Views neutral situations with unnecessary emotional depth.
Risks emotional burnout from over-involvement.
Resources to Review
Worksheet: Coaching Worksheet on Empathy [Worksheet Link]
Article: “How to be More Empathetic: 8 Exercises to Develop Empathy” by Dr. Chris Mosunic, PhD [Article Link]
Article: “Cultivating Empathy” by Ashley Abramson [Article Link]
Article: “How to Develop Empathy: 10 Exercises and Worksheets” by Jeremy Sutton, PhD [Article Link]
Article: “How to be More Empathetic: Practice and Talk to New People” by Claire Cain Miller [Article Link]
Article: “How to Develop Empathy in Relationships” by Derrick Carpenter [Article Link]
Article: “How to be More Empathetic: Connect With Others and The Worlds Around Them” by Hope Gillette [Article Link]
Article: “5 Tips for Cultivating Empathy” by Harvard Graduate School [Article Link]
Video: “How to Develop Empathy Skills: Empathy vs. Sympathy” by Dr. Ali Mattu [Video Link]
Video: “4 Steps to Practice Empathy from Dr. Brene Brown” by Jacob Morgan [Video Link]
Video: “9 Essential Ways to Develop Empathy” by Dr. Les Carter [Video Link]
Video: “5 Questions to Develop Your Empathy” by Six Seconds, The Emotional Intelligence [Video Link]
Video: “The Power of Empathy – and How it Changes Lives” by Kari Kampakis via TEDx [Video Link]
Video: “Empathy is the Super Power You Need” by Heather Kelly [Video Link]
Book: “The Art of Empathy” by Karla McLaren [Book Link]
Book: “Empathy: Why It Matters, and How to Get It” by Roman Krznaric [Book Link]
Book: “I Hear You: The Surprisingly Simple Skill Behind Extraordinary Relationships” by Michael S. Sorenson [Book Link]
Book: “Training Your Empathy: How to Cultivate the Single Most Important Relationship Skill” by Patrick King [Book Link]
Book: “How to Stop Being Toxic: Transforming Ego into Empathy” by Sophia Clarke [Book Link]
Book: “Emotional Intelligence: The Key to Thriving in Life” by SB Wade [Book Link]