Materials based on Conflict

Resolution Network
www.crnhg.org, used with
permission

4 – Empathy

CONFLICT RESOLUTION – 12 SKILLS

WHAT DOES THE WORD EMPATHY MEAN?

 “…empathy is walking with another person into

the deeper chambers of his self – while
maintaining some separateness. It involves
experiencing the feelings of another person
without losing one’s identity…” Robert Bolton, People
Skills, 1987
WHAT DOES THE WORD EMPATHY MEAN?
 How is it different from sympathy?
DEFINITION

Empathy Sympathy
Understanding what others
Acknowledging another
are feeling because you have
person's emotional hardships
Definition: experienced it yourself or
and providing comfort and
can put yourself in their
assurance.
shoes.

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Empathy_vs_Sympathy - accessed 7/22/2013

FEELING EMPATHY
 What helps you feel empathy?
 What are some of the ‘ingredients’ to feel
empathy?

 What makes it difficult to feel empathy?

 What are the ‘ingredients’ to not feeling empathy?
 (in small teams, then share with group)
EMPATHY SKILLS
 What do you think are key elements to empathy
as a skill?
EMPATHY BLOCKERS
…also called communication killers

 What are some examples of ‘pseudo-empathic’

responses that really irritate YOU?
 Let’s see if it is on the list (handout)
 What responses to these statements trigger?
ROLE PLAY – 3 VOLUNTEERS
 Assign person ‘A’, ‘B’ 1.
and ‘C’ in each group
 A and B are involved in 2.
an important
conversation (project,
weekend plans…) 3.
 C tries to join the
conversation
 A and B want to exclude 4.
C, want C to leave
Volunteers describe what
happened
Person C – what was
particularly
bad/excluding to you?
Was the focus on the
‘extra’ person, or the
topic?
Comments from
audience
GETTING BETTER AT EMPATHY

 Listening – active listening – good listening is a

key ingredient to showing empathy
 Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10
 Do you think different people would rate you
differently?
 Why would that be?
ANYBODY THERE?

 How do we know that someone is listening to us?

 Which of these do you do well?
 Which of these not so much?
STATIC
 Group exercise
 Group observations/conclusions
 What’s happening in the next session?

CONFLICT RESOLUTION – 12 SKILLS

12 SKILLS – 12 CLASSES
 Win/win approach
 Creative response
 Empathy
 DISC exercise
 Listening skills
 Assertiveness
 Co-operative power
 Managing emotions
 Willingness to resolve
 Mapping the conflict
 Designing options
Ah conflict!
WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!