A primary component of empathy is the ability to mirror others nonverbally. We can teach ourselves to become more empathetic by mirroring behaviours we see in others:
- Body positions
- Posture
- Tone
- Volume
- Gestures
- Facial expressions
To understand how mirroring encourages empathy, imagine yourself in your most empathetic moments. Perhaps someone has suffered a loss in the family or some other trauma. It feels natural to stoop a little and use softer gestures and facial expressions when talking to them about it. Their demeanor prompts us to mirror them, and as we do, we learn more about how they feel. Forcing yourself to mirror another individual has largely the same effect.
Next time you encounter a worker who seems distressed, find a private spot immediately afterward and mirror them as accurately as you can from memory. How do you feel? How do you think they were feeling? Are your judgments confirmed at some point?