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JIMINY SELF-HELP HANDBOOK 6

better at overseas assignments because they can quickly pick up on the unspoken norms for behaviour
and the mental models of that culture. Executives with high empathy are better at keeping employees
engaged, and employees with empathy give customers the very best experience. Relevant research at
the Center for Creative Leadership found that empathy predicts better job performance for managers
and leaders.

But empathy goes much beyond the working life. Fostering empathy is important because it helps to
resolve conflicts and improve the connection between each other. Furthermore, it leads to a broader
awareness and more openness to new insights.

This is confirmed by literature because research has shown that being empathic with each other and
listen to each other leads to conflict resolution and a bigger connection between individuals (Davis &
Oathout,1987; Long, Angera, Carter, Nakamoto, & Kalso, 1999). Moreover, empathy leads to a broader
awareness (Rogers, 1982).
Lastly literature confirms that fostering empathy is important because it reduces bullying, prejudice
and racism and increases the will of individuals to help others in need (Dixon, 2011; Gordon, 2012;
Davis, 1980; Eisenberg & Miller, 1987). In short, Empathy is a building block for a better society.

The three stages Empathy develops through and its boundaries

“Cognitive Empathy” – is the ability to know how persons feel and what they are thinking. Using
cognitive empathy alone can cause one to become detached, cold, and show indifference rather than
caring as the person tries to understand another person’s situation without internalizing his or her own
emotions. As a mostly rational, intellectual, and emotionally neutral ability means that some people
may use it for negative purposes (to manipulate people who are emotionally vulnerable).
“Emotional Empathy” – is the ability to physically feel what others feel, to create an echo of the state
of others inside our minds. Again, emotional empathy alone can lead to the inability to manage our
own emotions, cause psychological exhaustion and many times paralyze us so that we are unable to
act.

“Compassionate Empathy” – is the ability not only to understand a person’s difficult situation and feel
with them, but to move into action and help, which will bring some sort of relief, comfort, or
confidence that things will get better. Like before, compassion empathy alone can lead to persons
feeling guilty or looking negatively upon themselves if they are unable to assist the person in the
predicament.