In a high-IQ job pool, soft skills like discipline, drive, and empathy mark those who emerge as outstanding.~Daniel Goleman
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive.~Dalai Lama
Empathy is the ability to emotionally grasp what other people are feeling, to see things from their perspective, and to put yourself in their shoes. Essentially, it is placing yourself in the shoes of another person and feeling what they must be feeling.
Cognitive Empathy
Cognitive empathy, often known as 'perspective-taking,' is not what most of us think of when we think of empathy.
Cognitive empathy is the ability to put yourself in the shoes of another person and perceive things from their point of view.
It is a useful talent, especially in negotiations or for managers. It allows you to put yourself in the shoes of another person without necessarily interacting with their feelings. It does not, however, meet the notion of empathy as 'feeling with,' as it is a far more analytical and logical process.
It is essential in situations where a negation with a stakeholder is required; it will provide perspective and allow for a more productive dialogue. Allow the public servant to be open to stakeholders' issues as well.
Emotional Empathy
Emotional empathy occurs when you literally feel the feelings of another person alongside them as if you had 'caught' the emotions.
Personal pain or emotional contagion are other terms for emotional empathy. This is more emotional than the conventional understanding of the word "empathy."
Emotional empathy is harmful since it might lead to being overwhelmed by emotions and hence unable to respond. This is referred to as empathy overload.
Empathy with Compassion
Finally, compassionate empathy is what most people think of when they think of empathy: feeling someone else's sorrow and acting to help them.
Compassionate Empathy
The name, compassionate empathy, is congruent with our understanding of compassion. Compassion is characterized by feelings of concern for another person, but it is accompanied by a desire to take action to alleviate the problem.
Compassion for Weaker Section
The term "weaker section" refers to a segment of the population that is socially, economically, and politically behind the rest of the population and has suffered from a variety of inabilities as a result of their backwardness. The Government of India Act of 1935 defines "weaker sections" as a class or classes of people who suffer from educational and economic backwardness, as well as some aspects of social life, as a result of traditional untouchability customs, tribal background, tribal way of life, or other backwardness. However, this is not all. Women, the elderly, the disabled, and sexual minorities are also denied benefits and mistreated.
These characteristics enable a civil servant to lead not only with his or her brain but also with his or her heart. These core qualities of empathy and compassion aid in the development of positive relationships, which aid in the delivery of services, hence meeting the needs of the neglected. Lack of these values can lead to intolerance and further societal divisions. The concept of inclusive growth demands inclusivity in the thoughts and actions that go into the formulation of policies.
Empathetic officials are essential in modern administrations aiming for inclusive growth. He or she would be better prepared to deal with the obligations if he or she is empathetic and sympathetic. It helps with problem-solving and decision-making, to find a way forward one first has to understand people and their problems.