Empathy: It’s important but imperfect

By Declan Noone

In 2010, the University of Michigan’s Institute for Social Research published a report which stated that ‘College kids today are about 40% lower in empathy than their counterparts of 20 or 30 years ago’.^[1] These findings are based on a review of 72 studies of 14,000 American college students conducted between 1979 and 2009.^[2]

It is stark reading and a point of concern when you consider that those students are now in our organisations, many fulfilling leadership roles. Ironically, this coincides with a time when talent is looking for a sense of belonging, a desire to feel heard, and a need to create/add value, the key enabling leadership trait of which is empathy.

What is empathy?

There are a multitude of definitions readily available from ‘the capacity to form moral evaluations from another person’s perspective’^[3] to ‘vicarious introspection’,^[4] but the most common one you hear is that ‘it’s the capacity to put yourself in someone else’s shoes’ – that capacity to step outside your own needs and wants and consider the position, perspective or feelings of someone else. You can demonstrate emotional and cognitive empathy.

Why is empathy important?

Being empathetic can be a great source of pleasure to people. It makes you appear kinder to the person you are empathising with, which in turn can help to build trust and loyalty. It enables you to connect with others, which can help to fight off any sense of isolation or loneliness. Essentially, it helps you connect with others, creating a sense of belonging and building positive relationships, while also increasing personal happiness.