I read a thought-provoking Fast Company article titled Emotional Intelligence Is So 2020. It opens with the powerful statement, “…people are starving to be seen, acknowledged, and witnessed.” The article discusses the importance of understanding everyone’s emotions- a skill educators must possess.
The urgency for practicing empathy during these uncertain times
This is especially important as children and families face tremendous stress from the fear of deportation. It’s essential, too, for their peers, friends, and all of us as we grapple with the uncertainties affecting both those we know and those we don’t.
As the new year approaches, I hope to practice empathy in everything I do. Why? Empathy is one of the most valuable attributes of an educator, whether as a superintendent, school principal, department chair, teacher, specialist, aide, author, consultant, or any professional working directly with or on behalf of our students. We can cultivate empathy by taking cues from what psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers do: genuinely seek to understand and feel what others communicate through their words, body language, and actions.
Taking time to feel the emotions of others
Empathy means feeling what a person says as they express themselves, asking questions to avoid making assumptions and expressing understanding beyond the familiar response of ‘I hear you’ or ones like it. It is helpful to think of questions in three categories:
- Inquiries (e.g., what has this been like for you…?),
- Clarifications (e.g., is this what you mean?), and
- Responses (e.g., it sounds like you feel…is that right? What has helped in the past?). Each helps us connect with a person’s emotions and express care.
It is also vital to support one another as we prepare to enter a new era in which countless individuals face immense fear and trauma of deportation. Equally important is extending the same empathy to our students, families, colleagues, and others as they navigate uncertainties, no matter the form those challenges take
Supporting Connectedness
Building a disposition of empathy happens when we:
1. Listen attentively.
2. Ask thoughtful questions.
3. Understand and connect with the emotions behind a speaker’s words, body language, and actions.
4. Remain calm and composed.
5. Acknowledge and value what’s shared without being disingenuous.
Embracing empathy as a daily practice enhances our ability to work and connect with others. Empathy is the glue that holds us together, and we need it now more than ever as we welcome 2025.
