In my earlier article on Empathy , I shared that empathy has 3 levels and addressed the myth that empathy can solve all workplace issues for a leader. Empathy can't be generated unless you've experienced the same situation as your colleague. It's rare to have experienced all workplace events like promotion, firing, low performance, a peer getting promoted, and not getting along with the manager. If you haven't gone through the same situation as your colleague, the only way to understand their situation is through perspective-taking.
What is Perspective-Taking?
Simply put, perspective-taking is the ability to see a situation from another person's viewpoint. This means understanding why people act in a certain way in a particular situation, without necessarily agreeing with their actions.
Step 1: Embrace Curiosity
The first step is to acknowledge that you don't know the other person's perspective. This mindset shift makes you curious and engages your brain to solve the problem of understanding their viewpoint. This step helps overcome two unconscious biases:
#ConfirmationBias: The tendency to consider only data points aligned with your pre-existing views. By admitting you don't know the reason for someone's behavior, you reduce the chances of displaying confirmation bias.
#FundamentalAttributionError: The tendency to attribute behaviors to someone's personality. For example, thinking someone is lazy or aggressive. Recognize that people have multiple identities that change with the situation. Labeling someone as a certain personality forever hinders your willingness to understand their perspective.
Step 2: Acknowledge Different Perspectives
The second step is to recognize that you and the other person are different and that there are many ways to see the world. Not all perspectives are right or wrong; they are just different. This is easier said than done because our individual perspectives are hardwired in our brains through childhood experiences, traumas, values, and personal biases.
At the workplace, perspectives can also change depending on roles, available information, aspirations, etc. For instance, a senior leader may have more information than others, leading to a different viewpoint about the same situation. This step helps overcome #NaiveRealism, the belief that we see the world objectively, and those who disagree must be uninformed, irrational, or biased. This is often not the case, as even with the same scenario, we interpret things differently.
Example: Rabbit or Duck?
Consider the famous optical illusion of the rabbit or duck, or the old lady and young lady illusion. Why do you think you saw one image and not the other?
Do you think there's a correct answer?
Such illusions illustrate how our perspectives can differ even when viewing the same image.
Workplace Insight
You can develop the skill of perspective-taking sooner than you can learn to develop empathy. Perspective-taking helps bridge the gap when empathy isn't possible due to lack of shared experiences. By embracing curiosity and acknowledging different perspectives, you can better understand and navigate the complexities of workplace relationships.
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