What has worked well in the empathy training so far and what has not worked well?
And why?
Ingrid
Worked: Like having an empathy topic that we can discuss - Ie the topic from the book, even if I don't’ agree with it. It’s not roaming free form. Something that builds on the concepts you know and it adds to it. Has a systematic building. Meets need for: order, understanding, making sense of it
Didn't work: hesitant to share real life issues if it is recorded and put on the internet.
What Worked: What has worked well in the empathy training so far and what has not worked well? And why?
Edwin
Worked: the personal sharing - addressing real embodied personal issues. Because I feel a sense of working through personal issues and enjoy the feeling of insight and connection with others.
I like the systematic step by step learning. I am systematically and efficiently learning and growing and enjoy that feeling.
Would have liked it to be even more effective and systematic. Deeper and even more effective in some way. That is why we want to redesign the training.
Varsha
Personally, making contacts with learned, experience folks in the team and because part of this circle is the biggest thing for me because I can turn to everyone even after the sessions have gotten over. I have realized big time that how important it is to hear people. That heals people so much. Just lack of this is causing so much conflict in the world. Knowing that having empathy tent or creating deliberate events and opportunities for people to be heard will bring so much positivity in the world.
What has not worked for me is the time because there is so much on my plate right now that it doesn't give me an opportunity to go back and reflect and use the tools to personally try out the tool box or even contribute to it. Although I have best intentions to contribute. I wish I had more time.
But whatever it is I am glad that I am crawling now, if not running. At least I am in contact with this work even to its tinyest capacity. Above all, I got a family.
Bill
Agree with what others say.
The Experience: after a short amount of time you feel connected, even over Zoom medium.
The importance of reflective listening.
I don’t know where I fit in. We need a rubric.
When I have energy to put in I don’t know where to put the energy.
Work out the bugs doing the experience.
Peter
What has worked for me is the one on one personal interactions and learning everyone’s personal thoughts into common life experiences and the “essence” of empathy. I like seeing others ways of “doing it” and as I grow to trust people I can really appreciate and integrate their presence, knowledge and experience into my life. As for “not working”, I find the schedule somewhat difficult, because I am coming into this after work, but overall that’s just a secondary stressor.
Nice that people are pointed in the core direction, the intention helps., this where we are going.
Everyone's lived experience.
After a long day of work, feel tired.
Cielja
What has worked for me is that we had a frame of lessons to go over. As there were many areas that I would do differently, it challenged me to come up with what I would think/design if I would address the topic in order to help people working their empathy muscle. What did not work for me on the same token was that I got frustrated and felt almost with every chapter that things were mentioned that were already addressed.
Regarding the team: I LOVED IT. Love the dedication of being there consistently and that everybody was open sharing and tuned into the mindset of creating a culture of empathy. It’s amazing to count on people
I realize this medium works well. Zoom. I feel I can move forward and organize. It’s a fabulous medium.
Confusion of what is required for me. It would be nice to go over it. I still do not understand the model Bill gave of a Rubric. What can we do together.
The plus side - from a trainer's perspective. Had a lot of discoveries, even as a trainer.
Love you guys. It’s like family.
Bob
A wonderful book, A big fan of the book and listening to others and being listened to.
Edwin is a great leader and thankful for his leadership.