Empathy … or not?

Everyday at work is a behavioural experiment to me. I try new persona and observe and see what work in what situations and what don't.

I guess I have always been very observing from the start, and I have that empathy that draws me to people with troubling problems! While a lot of people communicate at ease, others find it hard to just lock eyes and strike a conversation. As a teacher, I did tap into that skill of mine, but not to the point where i myself have to try on new persona. 

I know I have a pair of attentive ears! I am that friend who listens to your problems and makes you feel appreciated. But then that was it! At one point I thought that empathy that was built in me was more of a curse than a blessing because of the long history I had with friends. Not until quite recently did I learn that I could put it to use in the work environment as well--though with caution. 

What I do is I prey upon those with vulnerabilities, those with pressing issues, and you know what it is like to be out there fighting on your own, having no one to even try to understand you? I understand that very well! That is where I step in, singling them out one at a time. I can offer to pay for some coffee and all I need to do is to prick that wound a little and there it goes: all the information I wanna know about the other party, something that would otherwise be withheld from me. I know this sounds pretty negative, but knees-deep in the office politics as I am now, I can turn this empathy as a weapon instead. What I have learnt is just because people come to you during their hard time doesn't mean that they trust you or that you are their best ally. It just simply means: they don't have a choice!


Comments

gäãra-dě-sañd said…
After reading, no clue what u r trying to say...
March 28, 2016 at 4:42 AM
MarshMarllow6338 said…
Oh yeah I'm that deep and sophisticated lol
March 28, 2016 at 12:02 PM
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