Empathic solidarity
Featured in the Developing an Emotionally Intelligent Team training manual
By Mike Bagshaw
Category: Emotional Intelligence
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
The complex business world of today means that there are fewer tasks that individuals can complete. We have to work in teams more than ever before. This increases the need to practise empathy in group settings. We have to be able to look critically at ourselves, to take in more ideas, to accept that there are many ways of looking at the world and many different, equally legitimate, values. Having to work in teams can make us feel our own identity is under threat and a common reaction is to become defensive. This is the opposite of what we need to deal with business in a changing and diverse world. Being flexible and empathic has become a key competency in teams. We call it ‘empathic solidarity’. You have empathic solidarity when every team member feels a collective sense of alliance. They trust, at a deep level, everyone’s commitment to the shared purpose. This is hard to achieve, but will make all the difference when a team is faced with a major challenge that needs the collaborative effort and energy of the whole group.
You begin this training activity by describing the concept of empathic solidarity and facilitate a discussion. You then present the characteristics of social awareness necessary for empathic solidarity and ask the participants to rate and discuss their skills in this area. The participants then work individually on an exercise to help develop their reflective listening skills, in other words, their understanding of feelings and meanings expressed by others. Next, you conduct a group exercise demonstrating mutual empathy. You end the training activity with a discussion and summary of how to communicate empathically in teams. This is aimed at increasing intimacy and empathic solidarity in the group itself. The level of personal disclosure increases as the training activity goes on.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to help participants to build the trust and shared commitment vital to that empathic solidarity.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:00:00 |
| No of Pages: | 19 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Additional resources: 1 tennis ball.
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to develop empathic listening in coaching and counselling skills, communication, and team development programmes. It has been designed for teams which have already developed sound basis of trust, identity and efficacy.
Download the training activity, Empathic solidarity as featured in the Fenman training manual; Developing an Emotionally Intelligent Team