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You don\u2019t need to be convinced that empathy is a good thing\u2013not just for ethical reasons but for practical ones, too<\/a>.\u00a0While we\u2019re still often cautioned<\/a> to \u201cleave emotions out of it,\u201d being able to put yourself in someone else\u2019s shoes is a hallmark of emotionally intelligent leadership, not to mention just being a good coworker. It can open up new lines of communication, create understanding, and help everyone achieve common goals.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Of course, none of that means it\u2019s easy. There are always going to be times when empathy is uniquely difficult to summon and sustain. When the going gets tough, your patience wears thin, and you can feel your frustration rising, it\u2019s enormously difficult to take a deep breath and continue to listen with an open mind. Still, these four\u00a0empathetic questions I\u2019ve learned to ask in difficult situations have helped me keep my cool and get to the bottom of whatever the trouble might be.<\/p>\n Related:<\/strong> Emotionally Intelligent Ways To Express These 5 Feelings At Work<\/a><\/p>\n No matter how they answer, thank them for sharing their thoughts and let them know you\u2019re going to take their point of view seriously. And as you listen to your direct report or colleague\u2019s answer, take note of their body language<\/a>, too. Then encourage the other person to share more specifics about the context or circumstances of their frustration or concern: \u201cYou seem upset about this. Could you tell me what initially happened that led to you feeling that way?\u201d\u00a0Then listen attentively to their feedback so you can try to piece together a causal timeline of events from their own point of view.<\/p>\n When employees, coworkers, or business partners know they can open up to you about their challenges, it\u2019s easer to resolve those conflicts early and avoid losing your patience over a much bigger blow-up later. You\u2019ll also help build an open work environment that maximizes everyone\u2019s talents, rather than one suffused by complaints and paranoia. So if you\u2019re feeling irritated by a coworker during a tough predicament, ask what roadblocks are standing in their way. When people feel valued for their contributions, they\u2019ll also feel more comfortable explaining\u2013without blame or anger\u2013what\u2019s preventing<\/em> from them contributing.<\/p>\n
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\n1. \u201cHOW IS THIS SITUATION AFFECTING YOU?\u201d<\/h2>\n
2. \u201cHOW IS THIS KEEPING YOU FROM SUCCEEDING?\u201d<\/h2>\n
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