Mentoring with Empathy
Recently, I discovered some true strengths of co-workers and mentors that reminded me of one of the greatest strengths a mentor can display, empathy. There were several people who demonstrated and understood the challenge I was going through as my mother-in-law had passed away. Often empathy is confused with sympathy. Sympathy is a feeling of concern and sense that something could make someone happier, but it doesn’t go so far as to attempt to share in the other person’s perspective. According to psychologist Daniel Goleman, empathy, is a vital supplier to develop emotional intelligence, a key skill needed as a mentor. Colonel Candid presents you with three components of empathy for you to consider the next time your mentee comes to you with a problem or situation requiring empathy. The first is cognitive empathy, this is the understanding of what the person is likely feeling or thinking. Although you’re not emotionally engaged, you can still use this to help you underst...