A colleague says:
“I spent the whole weekend working on that presentation. And them? No one even listened.”
You want to help, so you say:
“Maybe next time you could bring more energy.”
“Don’t take it so personally.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be fine.”

You mean well. But you just missed the point.
What do we often mistake for empathy?
❌ Giving advice or trying to fix the problem
❌ Downplaying the situation
❌ Trying to make the person feel better

So what actually helps? Try something like:
✅ “That sounds really tough.”
✅ “Thanks for telling me.”
✅ “How can I help?”

Why does it matter? (Catalyst, 2021)
Empathetic leaders have:
• 44% more engaged teams
• 28% more innovation than leaders with low empathy

Empathy isn’t softness. It’s a strategic skill.

Empathy doesn’t mean you need to have the answer. It’s not about saying the perfect thing.
“I honestly don’t know what to say. But I’m here. What can I do for you?”
Even that can be a powerful response. What matters is that we don’t run away, we don’t avoid tough emotions—and we show real, authentic care.

❓A question for you:
What would you want to hear if you were in their shoes?
And what could you try next time someone comes to you feeling overwhelmed?

Take care. Wishing you the best on your empathy journey!

I am Katka
Your soft-skills & coaching partner