Why the element of empathy has gained importance in the workplace post covid phase and how it impacts the work culture?
HS The pandemic has been a great teacher for all of us and has taught us the difference between ‘needs’ and ‘wants’. It has been a great leveller too, between the rich and the poor. When organisations were left with no choice but to move to remote working, the only way that one could understand what a co-worker expects was by putting oneself in the other’s shoes and be aware of their feelings. In other words, it is empathy in practice. Empathy has probably brought people together and reduced ‘social distancing’ to mere ‘physical distancing’. Initially as we were struggling with the new ways of working from home, we discovered that the best way to stay connected with our co-workers was to look for a common thread. Eventually, we began to work on our listening skills, understand the unspoken words and to ask...
