The basic requirement for Empathy is to identify the Common Ground. Once the common ground is established, it gives the person an opportunity to walk in the other person’s shoes.

Stephen R. Covey states “Nothing is more validating and affirming than feeling understood. And the moment a person begins feeling understood, that person becomes far more open to influence and change. Empathy is to the heart what air is to the body.”

We should never make assumptions and must have the courage to ask questions to understand from the other person’s perspective.

Here are some powerful quotes from various people that emphasize the Importance and the Power of Empathy.

• A prerequisite to empathy is simply paying attention to the person in pain. – Daniel Goleman
• Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place. – Daniel H. Pink
• When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems. – Stephen Covey
• ….

image: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear