Empathy: An Essential Component of Effective Communication
By Dr. Jeff Marx – Head of School
Empathy: An Essential Component of Effective Communication
August 8, 2024
Given our school’s missional imperative* to develop students who communicate effectively, I’ve recently pondered the lack of civility in our national discourse and prayed about its negative impact on our daily interactions. As our country and community welcomes people with different backgrounds and experiences, how can we leverage diversity as a strength? The kingdom of God includes people of all colors, nations, and races, and Paul speaks of diversity in the church as a strength (1 Cor. 12). We need each other! But we can’t grow together unless and until we can communicate effectively.
Our classical curriculum focuses on developing graduates who write and speak eloquently. Based on feedback from alumni, we’ve historically done well in this regard, but communicating effectively in a diverse and/or contentious environment requires more than proper grammar and syntax, a broad vocabulary, and excellent research. Effective civil discourse requires something the Christian community can and must provide—empathy. Empathy is a critical element of effective communication that is all but absent from mainstream communication.
What is Empathy?
Empathy is the ability to understand your counterpart’s thoughts and feelings. It involves a sincere effort to listen and grasp the context and goals embedded within another point of view. Empathy begins with the premise that all people are important and that everyone wants to be understood and accepted. Empathy builds rapport.
Empathy is Not Sympathy.
Although this has not always been the case, current usage of these two words is such that sympathy involves shared feelings, while empathy involves an identification but a separateness from the observed.
Empathy is Not Agreement.
We must strive to understand other perspectives in a diverse community! But we will not always agree.
A Christian Worldview is Inherently Empathetic.
All human beings are made in the image of God (Gen. 1:27). The Great Commandment (Matt. 22:36-40) compels us to love others as we love ourselves, and Paul asks us to humble ourselves sacrificially (Phil. 2:3-11). All people are inherently valuable, and this should be reflected in our communications.
In 2024-2025, I plan to lead our faculty and staff through a study of applying empathy in our individual and corporate communications, with the goal of developing tools to communicate more effectively. I’ll use John Inazu’s recent book Learning to Disagree as a basis for our conversation, and I’ll frequently refer to two other books: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman.
Please join the conversation alongside our faculty and staff this year, as we explore using empathy to engender excellent communication!
In Christ,
Dr. Jeff Marx
*The mission of Hill Country Christian School of Austin: We partner with Christian families to impart truth, cultivate character, and inspire service while preparing college bound students to think logically, communicate effectively, and impact the world with the love of Christ.