Conscious Empathy

𝙒𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙯𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣?
𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚: 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙛𝙪𝙡 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨.

Biases are the automatic assumptions or stereotypes that we make when interacting with people. These cause unintentional, unfair, and discriminatory treatment of others.

Dr. Kenneth Nowack and Dr. Paul Zak share research to conceptualize the layers of bias that underlie our conscious and unconscious responses daily. To do so, they use an iceberg model.

Unconscious thinking are the automatic brain sensors to detect and respond to perceived threat.

Preconscious bias can be altered with conscious effort, practice, and increasing awareness.

👉🏻 Mindful choices are purposeful and intentional. By noticing and reflecting on our own thoughts, feelings, and beliefs, we can become more deliberate to guide our attitudes and behaviors.

To bust bias, improve leadership, and develop cultures of empathy and trust:

𝟭. 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 – Understand your own bias and honestly clarify the stereotypes you have about others.

𝟮. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Practicing mindfulness meditation to enhance your compassion and empathy is called loving-kindness meditation.

𝟯. 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆-𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 – By having employees practice taking another person’s perspective, this increased awareness of others will directly translate to improvement in appreciation and caring for others.

𝟰. 𝗘𝗻𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲𝘀 – Psychological health and wellbeing is on the minds of employees everywhere and they are seeking cultures where interventions can improve collaboration and caring in dealing with others.

𝟱. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗮 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Management must lead by example and extend recognition and appreciation to employees. When employees feel valued and acknowledged, trust can be built.

𝟲. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆-𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 – Leaders and teams that model and share values of kindness, collaboration, and empathy create social norms.

🧠 Our brains produce more oxytocin during positive interactions that prime and motivate us to help others.

With practice and increased emotional intelligence, reinforcement can promote more fairness, inclusion, and acceptance in the workplace.