The last two posts, dealing with the value difference of empathy and the importance of effectively communicating it, reminded me of one of the many, many wise teachings of Zig Ziglar.
It dealt with the difference between empathy and – what I call – it’s close cousin, sympathy.
The lesson was included on one of the many audio programs of his I listened to early in my sales career that helped me to become a better salesperson and a more effective human being. In his typical wise and sagacious* manner, he explained the difference between the two words.
Zig used the example of being on a ship and coming across a fellow passenger suffering from a bout of sea-sickness. He explained that, if you have empathy, you’ll get him a washcloth, some aspirin and find the ship’s doctor.
However, if you have sympathy for him, you might feel so badly that you become part of the problem and get sick yourself.
(My apologies if I told that wrong. It’s been a while since I heard it. But, I assure you it does encapsulate the teaching.)
In other words, when we sympathize (and only sympathize) there is a danger of becoming a part of the problem.
When we empathize, we are much more likely to be part of the solution.
Your thoughts?
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* Finally, an opportunity to use “sagacious” in a sentence. 🙂
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All I can say, Bob, is “Right on!” It’s a question of whether we are problem-oriented or solution-oriented. You have to see and understand the problem, but you don’t stop there. You immediately turn your attention to “How can we make this better?”
I love your blog and always read it as soon as it comes in. Thanks so much!
Heather, thank you, my friend. Your kind comments mean a LOT to me. Please know that.