Why Empathy Will Advance Your Career
People show up for the job interview prepared to talk about how they are technically the best fit. They focus on the mechanics, the knowledge, and their life experiences. The truth is that those are all important but have you considered why empathy will advance your career?
Today’s job market has interesting challenges. Many employee seekers find many job seekers with more than adequate technical skills. Have you considered what might be missing?
Some suggest that job seekers are missing skills connected with Emotional Intelligence of which empathy is a significant component.
Why Empathy
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Communication. Employers want great communicators. They’ve heard repeatedly that communication is problematic from team members. When everyone is so technically skilled, businesses are looking for someone who offers something extra.
- Understanding. Empathy is not sympathy. Empathy is having an understanding. Employers need team members that are able to reach across the generations and other workplace bias to create team success. Emotions drive actions and behaviors. Those with empathy skills harness it.
- Easy is average. Demonstrating that you can play in the sandbox and consider another’s point of view that might be different from your own is not always easy. Most people do what comes easily. Empathy will positively set you apart from the crowd. Everyone else is average.
Empathy Adds Value
Additionally, businesses can outsource much of the technical skills if necessary. When projects back up there might be services and options from an external source that can get things moving again. They can’t easily outsource empathy. It must be developed or come as a package.
Do you want to advance in your career? Is it possible to be the resource that is exactly what businesses need but very few possess?
Consider your Emotional Intelligence skillset and be sure you are including empathy as a core value.
– DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and corporate trainer that specializes in helping businesses and individuals accelerate their leadership, their team, and their success. He is a four-time author and some of his work includes, Forgotten Respect, Navigating A Multigenerational Workforce and Pivot and Accelerate, The Next Move Is Yours! Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
