Using Practical Empathy to Improve Product Design and Collaboration 

We talk with author Indi Young about using practical empathy to make better decisions, improve product design strategies, and collaborate more successfully.

 

What can Udacity students do to increase their ability to practice practical empathy?

 

Every chance you get—every day—practice listening. Practice noticing what your reactions are to what people are saying, and giving them a chance to actually describe their perspective.

 

Practice reflecting their perspective so you can encourage them to go deeper. When talking to someone about something that maybe you don’t really believe in, completely suspend that disbelief and launch into the other person’s world. Reflect what they are saying so they feel confident saying back to you the deeper and deeper things…that’s practice.

Jane Sheppard