Strengths

Scores | Charts | Descriptions

Empathy™

People especially talented in the Empathy theme can sense the feelings of other people by imagining themselves in others

Score Distribution

Shows scores for this strength across all staff.

Users with Empathy strength

Theme Description

You can sense the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective. You do not necessarily agree with each person's perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person's predicament ‐ this would be sympathy, not Empathy. You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. This instinctive ability to understand is powerful. You hear the unvoiced questions. You anticipate the need. Where others grapple for words, you seem to find the right words and the right tone. You help people find the right phrases to express their feelings ‐ to themselves as well as to others. You help them give voice to their emotional life. For all these reasons other people are drawn to you.

Action Items

• Appreciate your gift for getting in touch with the thoughts and feelings of others.
• Practice naming the feelings you experience and those you observe in others, then help others name their feelings. People who can name their feelings seem to work better with other people.
• Build trust with others by letting them know that you know how they are feeling.
• Help your colleagues be aware of the feelings of the persons with whom they work.
• Identify a friend who has strong Empathy and check your observations with him or her.
• Sometimes it is important to be silent. You have the talent to, without talking, let other people understand that you know how they are feeling. Over time, refine your non-verbal communication skills.
• Act quickly and firmly if a person is behaving in a way that is unhealthy for that person or for those around him or her. Understanding someone's emotional state does not mean that you must excuse this behavior. Be aware that when your empathy turns to sympathy, others might see you as a "bleeding heart."
• Partner with someone with a strong Command or Activator theme. This person will help you to take needed action, even though people's feelings might suffer as a result.

How to Manage a Person Especially Talented in the Empathy Theme

• Ask this person to help you know how certain people within your organization are feeling. He is sensitive to the emotions of others.
• Before securing his commitment to a particular course of action, ask him how he feels and how other people feel about the issues involved. For him, emotions are as real as other, more practical factors and must be weighed when making decisions.
• Pay attention but do not overreact when he cries. Tears are part of his life. He may sense the joy or tragedy in another person's life more poignantly than even that person does.
• Help this person to see his Empathy as a special gift. It may come so naturally to him that he now thinks everyone feels what he feels, or he may be embarrassed by his strength of feeling. Show him how to use it to everyone's advantage.
• Test this person's ability to make decisions instinctively rather than logically. He may not be able to articulate why he thinks that a certain action is right, but he will often be right nonetheless. Ask him, "What is your gut feeling about what we should do?"
• Arrange for him to work with positive, optimistic people. He will pick up on these feelings and be motivated. Conversely, steer him away from pessimists and cynics. They will depress him.
• When employees or customers have difficulty understanding why an action is necessary, ask him for help. He may be able to sense what they are missing.