Walking in Their Shoes: Why Empathy is Our Superpower as Internal Communicators

Imagine stepping into a lively café, where conversations buzz all around you.

There's a group on one side discussing the latest must-see film, one on the other side engaged in a spirited debate about politics, and yet another sharing anecdotes about their weekend shenanigans. As a bystander, making sense of every conversation, let alone responding to them all, is a tall order.

This is the scene that reminds me of my daily role in internal communication.

I navigate a vibrant medley of roles, departments, and personalities, each with their own unique needs, concerns, and motivations.

Communicating effectively amidst this kaleidoscope requires a special ingredient, an element that allows us folks in internal comms to be more than message deliverers, and instead enables us to be connectors.

That secret ingredient is empathy.

Even from an early age, I've had a strong sense of empathy. As a youngster, I'd quite literally feel others' emotions—happy, sad, jealous, or hurt. I couldn't, and still can't, listen to the news without it weighing heavily on me all day, or even affecting me for days at a time. It took me a long time to realise what was going on, that I was quite simply absorbing others' emotions.

Luckily, I am now able to see my empathy as a help in life rather than a hindrance and have coping mechanisms in place to ease it when it gets overwhelming. Getting out in nature or immersing myself in a creative endeavor will often do the trick and help me refocus on my own emotions and energy.

The weight of others' emotions can be a daunting task, but I've come to recognise this as a gift that not everyone has, and one that allows me to truly connect with others, bringing a level of authenticity to my communication that would be impossible to achieve otherwise.

Yes, my role includes distributing information, but I prefer to consider myself less of a newsreader delivering headlines and more of a trusted friend sharing news over a cuppa.

Communicating with empathy allows us to create messages that are not just heard but felt.

Messages that don't just inform, but inspire and engage. It's the difference between adding to the noise and starting a conversation that really matters.

Whether we're crafting messages, nurturing trust, or guiding teams through change, with empathy, we become the connectors, bridge builders, and storytellers that add that much-needed human touch to an organisation.

Remember, at 'The Full Story', we're all about ensuring your voice is heard and understood, whether you're speaking to your team or the wider world. Let's work together to make your business communication as seamless and effective as possible.

I'm Becky, and I'm just a message away. So, drop me a line or give me a call - let's start crafting your full story today! Looking forward to hearing from you soon.

Cheers and catch you in the next post!