Final answer:
Responding with empathy involves understanding the speaker's emotional state and perspective, connecting emotionally without judgment, and communicating supportively to foster understanding and aid in problem resolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
To respond with empathy means to (b) Understand, connect emotionally, communicate supportively. This three-step approach involves:
- Understanding the emotions and ideas of the speaker by listening attentively to their meaning, tone, and non-verbal cues without judgment or interruption.
- Connecting emotionally by aligning ourselves with the speaker's feelings, showing concern, and expressing care through appropriate gestures and facial expressions.
- Communicating supportively by choosing words carefully, staying calm, and asking open-ended questions to foster a deep understanding and avoid misunderstandings, thus facilitating effective problem solving.
This approach allows you to step into the speaker's shoes, see the complexities of their perspective, and provide a response that validates their feelings and seeks to address their concerns in a respectful and constructive manner.
It is also important to distinguish empathy from sympathy, as empathy involves feeling with the person rather than feeling sorry for them. Managing our own emotions through metacognitive reflection helps to maintain an objective stance, ready to engage in bridge-building conversations with a focus on mutual understanding and problem-solving.