(4-6 sentences) on the following prompts.
- What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?
In so many ways. All of my family say I'm the "emotional one". Which may be true, but its a compliment to me. It's pretty amazing what happens when you actively listen to someone, friend or coworker, and really pay attention to what someone has to say. I try to relate to what a person is feeling, where they are coming from and what stresses they may have. You may be feeling the exact same but without listening and understanding with empathy, you wouldn't know.
- How does empathy help you build better software?
When you are constantly working behind a computer on a project, typing and coding all day, you have to remind yourself of the larger picture. Who are are you creating for? Who is this going to benefit? Help? Know who your user is and realize there is human behind everything you create.
- Why is empathy important for working on a team?
I've had the opportunity to do some Emotional Intelligence (EI) training before I moved to Colorado. Learning EI means learning skills to become more aware of, and capable of, controlling your response to your own and to others’ emotions. I think it's key to decision making in a group. I've learned to become self-aware of why what someone is saying or behaving is upsetting me. I take a moment to gain control over my emotion, listen to them and be empathetic to where they are coming from.
- Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.
While at my last job, I was placed on a team of 5 people to create a presentation on the Lean Six Sigma method (a collaborative team effort to improve performance by systematically removing waste and reducing variation in everyday processes). One person on my team was become more and more frustrated and just stopped contributing all together. I recognized this and talked to her afterwards. She just needed someone to be an empathetic listener, not to interrupt and give her a chance to vent. The next time the team met, I took the opportunity to ensure she was able to speak and have the chance to become the collaborator on our team she wanted to be.
- When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings?
I've worked in some sort of customer service all my life. The hardest time for me to be empathetic is when I know someone is either lying to me or is always the person who complains. It's hard for me to feel bad for someone who always blames someone else or is constantly negative.
- How can you improve your skills when faced with these scenarios?
I still feel bad or empathy for the scenario mentioned above. But more so because I know there is something deeper going on to feel like you need to lie for attention. Or to constantly be complaining instead of taking ownership of the real issue at hand and taking responsibility when you may be at fault. In some ways we all are a bit guilty of that. To improve my skill would be to just continue listening and practicing self-control when someone is frustrating me. We may not always agree and thats ok.
I'm really enjoying reading these responses Allison! I love the info-graphic and the cartoon that were added to aid the reader in following your journey of EQ excellence! User empathy is so important when developing software. I'm really happy that you are coming in with the mindset of user-first, and that you are ready to remind yourself of that end when necessary. Active listening will take you so far in this world, but you don't need me to tell you that. These skills will help you navigate pairings with both people you connect with and people you have a harder time understanding. You're looking very strong coming in!