Practical Tools for Improving Empathy

This is an excerpt from our People School office hours. I want to chat with you about a topic that's close to my heart: empathy. I see empathy as the superpower of understanding and feeling another person's emotions. It's all about picking up on the vibes in a room and being able to predict how someone might be feeling.

So, here's the thing - I truly believe that curiosity is the secret sauce to unlocking empathy. When we approach others with genuine curiosity, amazing connections can happen. I'll walk you through the art of active listening and mirroring words, which can help you create deeper connections with people.

People School is the perfect place to learn how to enhance your empathy and master your people skills goals. I love answering questions just like this one!

In this video:
0:25 - Defining Empathy
1:49 - Empathy as a Super Skill
2:24 - Difference between Emotional Intelligence and Empathy
4:07 - Making Empathy Practical
4:32 - Being Curious
6:25 - Listening for Trigger Words
7:55 - Mirroring Words and Emotions
7:57 - Mirroring Body Language
8:31 - Asking Level Three Questions
9:00 - The Power of Level Three Questions
18:14 - Key Points on Empathy
19:56 - Curiosity as a Path to Empathy
21:51 - Finding Anchor Stories
22:09 - The Importance of Anchor Stories
22:55 - Having a Purpose for Empathy

******
Hi, I’m Vanessa!

My goal is simple: Help YOU get to your goals faster. Never be overlooked, interrupted, or forgotten again.

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PS - Join the conversation on social!

[ScienceOfPeople]

People School is the perfect place to learn how to enhance your empathy and master your people skills goals. I love answering questions just like this one!
Learn more here: scienceofpeople.com/pschool

[ImmortalGirl]

I love how shes excited to explain these

[anc]

Vanessa and Scott, thank you very much for answering my question and highlighting it in YouTube. This helps me understand the semantics of the meaning of empathy, and the realization there is a difference between empathy and EQ. You have provided me with more clarity on what my strength is and what I need to work on more. Thanks again.

[nandinidash]

Real sympathy is rare these days. thanks for having a discussion on this.

[pharmclare]

Well explained. People school is great to consider/participate

[DillyDallyLove]

Loved it! Continue spreading empathy! Subscribed!

[mayasmith]

New follower 🎉 I need help in my communication skills and obviously my empathy! Lolol thank you!!

[TheUrbanEpicure]

As a grandiose narcissist, I have zero empathy, but I am never confused. I can always and easily tell what emotion(s) other people are feeling - I have to, how else am I supposed to manipulate them and exploit their emotions? When listening to people, it is easy to respond in a way that suggests I care and mirror their emotions.

Bottom line: Empathy is not needed to dispel confusion. It is easily simulated, but it is useful to gain peoples' sympathy and trust.

[JerzJ]

Hello Vanessa 🖐🏽,

I am wondering when you are going to create more videos of decoding. Perhaps reunions of reality shows, leaders in todays world, you & your husbands idols, or even my hero shark thanks very own, kevin o'leary. Being high in competence, your videos has been appreciative & proficient.

Onwards,
-Jerzee

[HobbesNJoe]

So the secret is getting other people to talk about themselves.

[frankdelahue]

Anthropologists Helen Fisher said that empathy is in the Estrogen and Oxytocin system.

[randomprettysecret]

No one would like to be my friend anymore I’m an outsider and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere

[ZelfOntwikkelingDienstbaarheid]

I have to STRONGLY disagree with you here. With empathy it is about the other, it is not a trick to get what you want.
With empathy you see the pain of the other, you feel the pain of the other and you live the pain of the other.
And hopefully you can find together a way out of the pain.
But even if that is not possible, by sharing the pain of the other, you will lighten the burden of the other.