Empaths are Great at Work - 5 Ways They Thrive
Let’s be honest here, being empathic in a busy work environment is often taxing and overwhelming. It takes a lot of down time at home or at our personal hobbies to release and let go of those extra feelings. Over time, without good outlets, an empath at work can simply burn out and lose that spark that makes them so wonderful. I do believe it is time we start seeing this ability as a strength everyone can use to make a happier and more productive work place, no matter what job you do.
1. Phone Communications
Empaths naturally tune into the thoughts and feelings of others. Someone with a high level of empathy is going to be able to answer the phone and get to the heart of any issue your clients may be having quickly. Usually within the first 3 minutes of any conversation. In addition, they are often the ones that will let you know when a more delicate hand is required or someone is simply not prepared to listen.
2. Sales
An empath has the natural ability, as said above, to get to the heart of the client’s needs. Even if the purchaser is hesitant, they can innately recognize that hesitation and the reasons behind it. A highly in tune empath can use the emotions that they are feeling and usually put forward suggestions that will leave prospective buyers wanting to purchase or at least take a chance on what you are offering. They may make fewer sales in the short term, but what sales they make are solid and customers will come back time and time again.
3. Home Services
Empaths make great employees where visits to client’s homes are required. They value their homes and spaces as almost sacred. When one has to even step on the property of a client, they are already aware of how to respect another's most treasured space. They will go to the extra lengths required to maintain a clean working area, engage the home owners with understanding and compassion and will be quicker in completing the job assigned. You will often find if you have an empath employed in this area you will get personal requests that only they return for future work.Independent
4. Contractor or Work Alone
A lot of empaths take this course. Being in a multi employee setting is unsettling for an empath at times. Often there is too much stimulus for them to be effective and focused at the job they are performing. And yet, if you make a private working area for them you will often find they will go above and beyond with what they produce. It allows the employee to fully focus their energy on the expected goals and outcomes wanted by the employer. Work at home contractors can far exceed what they can complete in an office setting, at home in a quiet familiar setting.
5. Trainers, Consultants and Supervisors
Who else could be better at leading others? All of these areas require an understanding of people. Often we hide our feelings and fears in a work environment. An empath can innately recognize this and adjust the methods of working that allows everyone to thrive. An empath can also look at a large group or team and understand who is or is not going to embrace new ideas and concepts easily. An empath will make every effort to get everyone onboard with a level of enthusiasm. Empaths tend to be believers in the good side of others and if you want to bring that out, placing them in positions where they can lead and teach is ideal. Just don’t undermine their efforts with too much structure.
All too often we struggle as empaths in a typical work environment. We are called oversensitive or over emotional simply because we approach whatever we choose to do with a passion. We know we are right when it comes to reading others and can be easily dismissed because of the intangible feelings over pure presentable facts most industries require. Empaths never forget that all businesses rely on people, both as clients and employees to succeed.
Other employees can over time learn to avoid interacting with the empaths as they seem to know more about them then they may wish them to know. In turn empaths can become isolated and despondent with the lack of positive interactions. They will go quiet and do only the minimum required for the position they fill. In the worst case scenario others will intentionally try to undermine that employee, bombard them with negative comments, even threaten them if they speak up or repeatedly go to supervisors with minor issues to create a situation where the empathic employee is let go because they simply do not “fit”.
Empaths are always feeling others hence why time alone in a variety of ways is healing for them. Many simply give up and try to fit a mold of expectations in order to survive. I think it is time we start seeing what strength empathy truly is and how to use it effectively to benefit people inside and outside the work environment.
We all have skills and talents, and empathy is one of them. It is time to stop seeing it as a curse when it comes to work. Use it to excel and remember to take care of yourself.
Blessings
Mary
