Quick-Start Empathy Questions

Use these empathy-driving questions to unlock open conversation (these are not intended to be part of an interrogation!). Sprinkle one or two into conversation when you want to understand more about your employee and lead by example by sharing your own story first. Remember to have empathy for those who don’t want to share - this only works if there’s an established level of psychological safety. And don’t ruin it all by not truly listening to their answers. The key to empathic listening is to listen to understand, not to judge, agree or respond by turning the spotlight right back to your experience.