People with strong Empathy talents are at their best when they are tailoring their approach by anticipating others’ reactions and needs.

Empathy®

A theme in the Relationship Building domain of CliftonStrengths

People exceptionally talented in the Empathy theme can sense other people’s feelings by imagining themselves in others’ lives or situations.

 

Full Theme Description

You can sense the emotions of those around you. You can feel what they are feeling as though their feelings are your own. Intuitively, you are able to see the world through their eyes and share their perspective.

You do not necessarily agree with each person's perspective. You do not necessarily feel pity for each person's predicament — this would be sympathy, not empathy.

You do not necessarily condone the choices each person makes, but you do understand. This instinctive ability to understand is powerful.

You hear the unvoiced questions. You anticipate the need. Where others grapple for words, you seem to find the right words and the right tone. You help people find the right phrases to express their feelings — to themselves as well as to others. You help them give voice to their emotional life. For all these reasons other people are drawn to you.

 

This Theme’s Power and Edge

People with strong Empathy talents are able to build and form relationships that have great emotional depth. Others feel understood by them and seek their company. Their innate ability to understand the emotions of those around them provides comfort and stability.

 

How People with Strong Empathy Talents Describe Themselves

  • "I am an emotional person."

  • "I need freedom to laugh, cry and vent."

  • "I love the gladness, sadness and madness of humanity."

  • "I hate things that block or limit emotional expression."

  • "I bring emotional intelligence."

 

Theme Contrast

Empathy “I usually can tell how someone feels.”
Individualization “I usually can tell who someone is.”
Empathy “Intuition helps me decide what to do.”
Analytical “Data help me decide what to do.”
 

Empathy Helps and Hinders

Helps

  • You have a way of hearing emotions without words — and as such, you can tend to others' emotional needs while they are still manageable, before they get blown out of proportion.

  • You have an innate sense of when feelings need to be addressed and instinctively know what questions to ask to get others to open up. Trust your intuition; follow your instincts in such situations.

  • Your attention to others' feelings — and your ability to anticipate how certain decisions will make them feel — make you a valuable asset to your team as you assess the potential reactions to policies, processes and procedures you must implement.

  • As a team leader, you bring caring, concern and understanding to your team members, making them feel valued, respected and appreciated.

Hinders

  • Experiencing others' emotions can be draining. Know when you need to take a break, find some "alone time" and recharge.

  • If you lead a team, you may tend to put off delivering bad news or having difficult performance conversations for fear of the possible emotional reaction. In times that call for such candour, use your Empathy to find the most compassionate and helpful way to have these necessary conversations. People will appreciate your honesty and caring.

  • You might worry about how others will feel about decisions you make, and so, when facing such decisions, you might procrastinate. Don't let your Empathy paralyse you; use it to make good decisions that take into account others' feelings — and devise a response to any potentially negative reactions.

  • Sometimes your Empathy can take the form of sympathy, which by itself is not bad. But if sympathy keeps you from making a difficult decision — or makes you put off the inevitable — leverage the other side of your Empathy: How will others feel if you don't make the hard decisions that come with leadership?

 

If Empathy is a Dominant Theme for You, Take Action to Maximise Your Potential

  • Practice refining the words you use to name the feelings you experience and observe in others.

  • Help people name their feelings. Those who can express their feelings seem to work better with others.

  • Build trust with people by letting them know that you know how they feel.

  • Help your colleagues be aware of their coworkers’ feelings.

  • Develop routines at the end of each day that allow you to help you decompress. If you don’t do this, you might find your Empathy talents draining you.

  • Be silent sometimes. You have the ability to let others understand that you know how they feel without saying a word. Over time, refine your nonverbal communication skills.

  • Act quickly and firmly if someone is behaving in an unhealthy way. Understanding someone’s emotional state does not mean that you must excuse this behaviour. Be aware that when your empathy turns to sympathy, others might see you as a “bleeding heart.”

  • Partner with someone with strong Command or Activator talents. This person will help you to take needed action, even though people’s feelings might suffer as a result.

 

Potential Blind Spots to Watch Out For

  • Pay attention to your energy levels. Constantly experiencing others’ emotions can be draining, so try to occasionally disconnect from all the emotions so that you don’t get burned out.

  • Because you are so sensitive to others’ emotions, some people might think you are prying or over-involved in their lives. Be careful not to overstep when others prefer to keep their feelings to themselves.

 

If Empathy Is a Lesser Theme for You

If Empathy is not a dominant theme for you, it does not mean you do not care about others or that you lack emotional intelligence. The way you relate, however, is probably much less spontaneous and demonstrative than those with high Empathy talents.

  • Even if you are not the type to experience others’ emotions, you can demonstrate that you care about them by asking questions, committing to action on their behalf or reminding them of your support and friendship.

  • Among your top themes, find those that help you understand and connect with others. Relator and Individualization talents may help you see where others are coming from.

  • Consider taking a course to learn active listening skills, which can help you develop mutual understanding.

  • One of the best ways to show employees that you care is to spend quality time together. Make an appointment once a month to spend quality time with your team members.

  • Before you act, try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes. Ask yourself, “How might they feel?” “How will they respond?”

 
 

Source: Gallup®

 
 

“Teach me to feel another’s woe, to hide the fault I see; that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me.”

— Alexander Pope, poet