Is Empathy Dying?

The downside of living in a modern world of instant communication and little personal contact. 

IS Empathy Dying? A recent study at the University of Michigan found that empathetic skills in college students have declined by as much as 48% over the last 8 years. The reasons for the decline are many, but two, in particular, stand out: People participate in less face-to-face communication, Mobile devices are taking the place of actual interaction. This same challenge is faced by organizations. The ever-increasing drive for productivity has changed the time people spend together. Remote workplaces, file sharing, and self-paced learning all contribute to fewer face-to-face interactions. This lack of physical interaction makes it difficult to truly connect. As noted by Dr. Sherry Turkle in her book, Reclaiming Conversation, “Empathy is uniquely human. It cannot be mastered without face-to-face conversations.” Improving empathy requires an investment. The good news is that the actual cost of improving empathy is small, and the potential payout huge. Research has shown that teams with higher empathy are more creative and productive. To improve empathy, organizations require an investment of time. The goal should be to allow time for people to get to know each other as individuals. Here are a few simple suggestions: Schedule informal discussion time at meetings - Set aside a few minutes at each meeting for non-organizational discussions. Encourage face-to-face communication - When possible, encourage people to speak directly, rather than email. Special events – Do things not directly related to work. Watch and discuss a video, plan an outing or group breakfast - it doesn’t matter. Remind people you care – This simple action will encourage trust. Trust will improve communication. Communication will improve empathy. Nice. We all have the ability to be more empathetic. To improve empathy, individuals require an investment of commitment. Here are a few ways to improve your ability to empathize: CHALLENGE your own assumptions. DO NOT JUDGE the choices of others based on your personal upbringing/life experiences. LISTEN to others’ stories. TRY to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Little changes can make a big difference. Invest in improving empathy. You will like your return on investment…