Education experts from Learning Care Group and Sprout have teamed to find ways to engage children in opportunities to develop an understanding of empathy -- through teachable moments, by acknowledging children's good deeds and in other ways. Each school has pledged to contribute a certain number of kind acts -- collectively, as well as individually. These can include something as simple as giving a hug, getting a towel to help clean up a spill or sharing a box of crayons with a friend. Kind acts are being tracked and highlighted with Kindness Meters at each school, where children can see how each individual action adds up to a kinder school overall.
Sprout launched its Kindness Counts campaign in August 2011 and hopes to ultimately record one million acts of kindness from families across the country.
“When someone feels thoroughly understood, you release potent forces for change within them. Not agreed with, but understood. When you feel thoroughly heard, you’re less adversarial. And the demonstration of understanding, the articulation of the other side’s point of view — purely that, no agreement at all — that’s the application of empathy…. [Also] the act of trying to articulate how the other side is feeling calms you down. It kicks in a certain amount of reason in you. It broadens your perspective.”
- Chris Voss, former F.B.I. lead international kidnapping and hostage negotiator, author of “Never Split the Difference”
Denmark is one of the happiest countries in the world. This is according to the UN’s World Happiness Report, an important survey that since 2012 classifies the happiness of 155 countries in the world, and that for seven years has placed Denmark among the top three happiest countries on a global level. The fact that teaching empathy has been mandatory since 1993 in schools in Denmark is a factor that contributes to the happiness of the country.
Empathy helps build relationships, prevent bullying and succeed at work. It promotes the growth of leaders, entrepreneurs and managers. “Empathic teenagers” tend to be more successful because they are more oriented towards the goals compared to their more narcissistic peers.
The divisiveness in our world has left us isolated. We have lost much of our ability to work together which we know achieves far more than working alone. Empathy is the pivot point in building our connections, in building our trust in each other, in building a better world. As a leader in the world of work, Johnny has seen first-hand how empathetic workplaces are better workplaces. Whether you lead in an office or volunteer in a homeless shelter, in this talk, explore the powerful role empathy plays in every human relationship and every collective endeavor.
According to the Associated Press, there’s a movement of Christians who believe that empathy “can manipulate caring people into accepting all manner of sins according to a conservative Christian perspective, including abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, illegal immigration and certain views on social and racial justice.”
In other words, these Christians believe that empathy is bad.
The article goes on to explain that Allie Beth Stuckey, author of “Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion,” believes that empathy has been co-opted “to convince people that the progressive position is exclusively the one of kindness and morality.”
The Great Empathy Commandment has been very useful in the degradation of Christian morals and ethics, let alone evangelism, pastoral counseling, etc. Sixty years ago it was almost unthinkable that the Christian people would, by a majority, think homosexuality a “gift from God,” but that is the case today. Why? Empathy. “Walk a mile in their shoes. Consider their life. ENTER INTO their emotional experience.”
Then it went from simple homosexuality to the redefining of marriage. Now, polyamory, polygamy. And with 2015, every form of gender-destroying “experience.” You must empathize. You must “enter in” or your are “unloving.” Already the push to empathize with those who naturally experience “intergenerational love” (pedophiles) is in the academy and the culture. Marrying your cat or your Siamese fighting fish is just around the corner. Just empathize with the experience. Validate it. Then submit.
Why Being Understood Matters More Than Being Right It was never about being right. I needed to be understood. To have someone pause, step into my experiences, and see through my perspective. Not to argue, but to listen, and to understand.
I write to be seen, to be heard. I write so my thoughts and feelings are validated. So, someone somewhere, might read and care.
On the other hand, a lack of empathy is at the root of why some people exhibit no constraint when it comes to making lewd comments toward women, minorities, people of other religions, the weak, the poor and those who cannot protect themselves. A lack of empathy is at play when people strike out at one another verbally or physically and do not care if they hurt someone else’s feelings.
Because of empathy, as Americans we have for the most part moved toward political correctness. It is becoming a norm to modify our language so that we avoid saying things that are offensive or hurtful.
Compassion has deep roots. The Latin compassion blends com (with) and pati (to suffer) — literally, “to suffer together.” By the 14th century it was already in English, woven through scripture and moral stories about what it means to share in being human. In Middle English it often meant literal sharing of suffering, not distant understanding. To “have compassion” was to let another’s pain truly become your own.
Empathy, on the other hand, is surprisingly modern. Coined in 1908 by Edward Titchener from the German Einfühlung (“feeling-into”), it had nothing to do with people at first. It described aesthetic projection, feeling oneself rise with a mountain, soaring with a bird, moving with a painted line. It was about dissolving self-world boundaries.
his article beautifully traces the deep roots of compassion and the evolving idea of empathy. I agree that our language often dilutes the raw, human essence of ‘suffering together.’ In today’s world—especially in digital spaces—we need to revisit this depth. At Passionate Futurist , we believe authentic connection is at the heart of impactful communication. Whether in storytelling, digital marketing, or community-building, empathy shouldn’t just be a buzzword—it should be the bridge that truly brings people together.”
by Neil Flash Empathy is often treated as optional in strategic health communications. A human touch layered over hard science. But what if it’s the key to building trust, inspiring engagement and improving outcomes?
For this month’s article, it was a pleasure to discuss the topic with four agency founders: Catherine Devaney (Curious Heath); Elena Mills (The Salve); Jessica Pacey (67health) and Jo Spadaccino (Stirred). We explored why empathy must evolve from being an afterthought into a strategic anchor across the health value chain – and what happens when this isn’t done.
Empathy is a core capability, regardless of function – our ability to connect with others and understand how information is received, interpreted and acted on directly shapes the impact of our work.
There has been much discussion lately, on these pages and elsewhere, of empathy – that ability to understand and share the feelings of another, or the other. It is supposed to be the higher form of consciousness which allows us to walk in another’s shoes. But like most things, empathy has a few important nuances to it.
The pioneering Black psychologist Kenneth Clark – whose early work helped convince the Supreme Court in Brown vs The Board of Education – noted in his work two kinds of empathy: chauvinistic empathy and empathic reasoning.
Chauvinistic empathy is the most ordinary form today – it is when we extend empathy only to our predisposed in-group, but not to those who are truly other. It is why we can open our hearts, homes, and wallets to those we empathize with. And turn a garden hose on those we don’t.
by Eloise Dennis Strategic empathy should be embedded into university curriculums in international relations and security studies, as well as in the training of public servants, military officers and intelligence professionals. It would help if ministers understood it, too.
Understanding intent is just as important as measuring capability. While capability can be quantified, intent is intangible and far more difficult to assess. Misreading another state’s intentions remains one of the greatest risks in international relations, often leading to overreaction or underestimation.
In an era of rapid escalation and shorter warning times, the ability to anticipate adversarial behaviour is crucial. Strategic planning cannot rely on waiting for declarations or overt signals. It requires interpreting ambiguous cues and unspoken motives.
Empathy is vital to this process. It demands sensitivity to the emotional, symbolic and historical meanings behind actions. Failures of empathy—as seen in Vietnam and Afghanistan, for example—have revealed the high cost of misreading cultural and psychological contexts.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Empathy is usually regarded as a virtue, a key to human decency and kindness. And yet, with increasing momentum, voices on the Christian right are preaching that it has become a vice.
For them, empathy is a cudgel for the left: It can manipulate caring people into accepting all manner of sins according to a conservative Christian perspective, including abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, illegal immigration and certain views on social and racial justice.
Chris Voss, a former F.B.I. hostage negotiator and author, spoke with David Marchese, co-host of "The Interview" at The New York Times, about President Trump’s negotiation tactics.
“The Interview” features conversations with the world’s most fascinating people. Each week, co-hosts David Marchese and Lulu Garcia-Navarro talk to compelling, influential figures in culture, politics, business, sports and beyond — illuminating who they are, why they do what they do and how they impact the rest of us.
Chapters:
00:01 - Introduction 01:20 - How Voss became an FBI negotiator 05:47 - Tactical empathy 10:41 - How to identify people you can’t negotiate with 13:13 - Empathy and Elon Musk 14:45 - Chris Voss on Trump’s negotiation skills 20:37 - Does Trump have empathy? 23:30 - Conflict versus collaboration 27:20 - How to talk to your boss 29:11 - The illusion of control 31:09 - Negotiations Voss has lost 34:58 - Why compromise isn’t a good thing 37:18 - Should we always be goal-oriented?
Constant change, distributed teams, and increasing complexity mark today’s workplace. In such an environment, people can feel vulnerable. They worry about being judged, making mistakes, or being left behind. Without a foundation of empathy, these concerns can quickly turn into fear, defensiveness, and disengagement.
Empathy prompts us to see situations through others’ eyes, recognize their ideas and emotions, and validate their experiences. When leaders and peers consistently practice empathy, they send a powerful message: “You matter.” Once people believe they matter, it lays the groundwork for a healthy culture rooted in collaboration and accountability.
Empathy is a business imperative. Teams that feel psychologically safe outperform those that don’t. Studies from Google’s Project Aristotle and others have shown that psychological safety is the single most important predictor of team effectiveness. And empathy is the gateway to achieving it.
4-Step Empathy Practice Toolkit Step 1: Investigate Their World When trying to engage with other professionals, research beyond the surface level. Look at their LinkedIn activity, recent posts, their company announcements and so on. What are they celebrating? What problems are they trying to solve? Also, check other social media to gather a holistic view of their personality so you have enough tools to build more intel before creating a compelling strategic narrative.
For unexpected face-to-face meetings (where you bump into someone unexpectedly), use common sense and observe facial expressions and body language reactions. Follow your intuition (which the most sophisticated AI doesn't have).
Empathy is often lauded as a cornerstone of effective leadership, as it helps leaders connect with their teams and build trust. For some leaders, though, an overly empathic approach can deplete their energy reserves and emotional capacity, blurring their decision-making, stalling accountability and even opening the door to burnout, all of which negatively impact trust. How can a leader lean into their empathy and EQ while still driving high performance?
As the members of Forbes Coaches Council know, striking the right balance as a leader helps create sustainable growth, a strong culture and long-term success. Here, 20 members share strategies for leveraging one’s innate empathy without seeing diminishing returns as a leader.
Listening, showing empathy and working to understand how employees feel is a powerful way to build trust around AI implementation, Covey said. Employees need understanding from a leader in the same way that a body needs oxygen. Listening to what they have to say and showing some understanding of their opinions won’t necessarily fix any issues, but it shows that you value being on the same page. Covey said it’s also important to respect their opinions, even if they are contrary to your plans.
It’s also vital to explain why you’re moving forward with AI, Covey said. An explanation provides context, meaning, and an opening to wider understanding from employees. Talking directly about the reasoning behind AI implementation helps employees see that you’re being transparent—a vital element to building trust. And, he added, trust built on transparency will remain, even if the employees are still fearful about what AI will do for their jobs.
Just when you thought the culprit behind America’s moral decline was pop stars or bad coffee, along comes a group of conservative Christian thought-leaders declaring that empathy—yes, feeling for other people—is, in fact, a sin. If you’re checking to make sure you didn’t just wander into a parody site, relax: the empathy-is-evil movement is quite real, and its high priests are Joe Rigney, Allie Beth Stuckey, and James White. Their message? Stop identifying with suffering. It’s what the devil wants.
Let’s get straight to it. The idea that empathy could be considered a sin would get you laughed out of a middle school ethics class or a kindergarten circle—unless, that is, you’re deep in the trenches of American evangelical culture wars, where even loving your neighbor must be subjected to a worldview litmus test.
Democracy starts with Listening: unlocking the potential of diverse perspectives By Corine Jansen
Listening is an ethical choice and the starting point of a healthy democracy.
It is impossible to read a newspaper or watch a talk show without encountering the statement: I don’t feel heard!
In today’s society, people are speaking more than ever before. Verbally mediated information flows in abundance through social media channels, talk shows, and hours of political debates. But as the number of opinions herein increases, and expression seems to be considered more important than opinion formation, the choice to listen seems to become less and less natural every day. Isn’t it ironic that in our country, where everyone is allowed a voice, the basis of communication, and listening, is such an underserved child?
Being a comforter is part of who God is. It’s not just His words that comfort us, it’s His presence too. When we’re sad and upset or fearful His presence in our life makes all the difference. When you couple that with the promises from His Word, we know we aren’t alone in our situation. Beyond that, God comforts us to create a cycle of empathy where we are to be present in the lives of others who are going through a tough time. We are called to carry His presence where it’s needed most by others so they too can be reminded their not alone. God’s kind of comfort binds up our wounds and builds bridges as we participate in this cycle of empathy.
Listening in health care is more than politeness—it’s healing. Researchers describe “values-driven listening,” where curiosity, presence, and compassion lead to stronger trust and better care. Credit: Shutterstock
When you visit a doctor, you expect them to listen. But in today's fast-paced health care system, real listening -- the kind that makes you feel seen, heard and understood -- can be the first thing to go.
A new article, co-authored by Dr. Leonard Berry of Texas A&M University's Mays Business School, argues that listening isn't just a nice gesture, it's a powerful tool that can improve your care and even help heal the health care system itself.
Many now equate empathy with relativism. Yet empathy does not demand an open mind, but an open heart; it is not about persuasion but humanisation.
Vance is not alone. In recent months, Elon Musk referred to empathy as “the fundamental weakness of Western civilisation”. Evolutionary psychologist Gad Saad coined the term “suicidal empathy”, claiming that ignoring self-interest leads to self-destruction. Such thinking may be newly emboldened, but not new. In the middle of the twentieth century, Ayn Rand’s objectivist philosophy resisted the obligation of empathy.
Empathy has always had its detractors, but its efficacy is difficult to ignore. “
Empathy is usually regarded as a virtue, a key to human decency and kindness. And yet, with increasing momentum, voices on the Christian right are preaching that it has become a vice.
For them, empathy is a cudgel for the left: It can manipulate caring people into accepting all manner of sins according to a conservative Christian perspective, including abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, illegal immigration and certain views on social and racial justice.
“Empathy becomes toxic when it encourages you to affirm sin, validate lies or support destructive policies,” said Allie Beth Stuckey, author of “Toxic Empathy: How Progressives Exploit Christian Compassion.”
Leading with empathy Empathy takes this further by helping us understand personal aspirations, internal pressures, and hidden pain points. Instead of only asking about business objectives, teams dig deeper:
"What keeps this person up at night?" "What are they genuinely excited to achieve in the next year?" B2B buying is complex, often involving several people across a myriad of departments, each with different goals, priorities, and tolerance for ambiguity. Effective account planning focuses on creating a truly customer-centric buying experience, recognizing the stakes that each participant is putting on the line.
The word "empathy" usually has a positive connotation. But during an interview with vodcast host Joe Rogan in February, Tesla/SpaceX/X.com head Elon Musk railed against "suicidal empathy" and declared, "The fundamental weakness of western civilization is empathy, the empathy exploit."
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