The Five Basic Problems with Virtual Communication: Lack of Empathy
Imagine this scene: You have an interview for a position in a company that you are really excited about. You've done your research and you are ready for the meeting. You have a gut feeling that this could really work out in your favor! About an hour before the meeting you get an email from the company converting the physical meeting to a virtual one -- a virtual chat. You have never used the technology, but now that you don't have to commute to the office you have more time. All you need to do is download the app and log in when prompted. When you get on the call, the connection is poor and you fumble a bit finding the right background for the video chat. You are concerned that you aren't coming across as confident as you feel and when you hang up, you have a sinking feeling that you might have blown it. In fact, you might have. The truth is that online relationships must go well, or they won't go at all. There is a general belief that "If I do something stupid it's because I'm having a bad day. If you do something stupid, it's because of a character flaw." Openness is an important part of getting a relationship off to a good start. Openness is how you send welcoming signals with our faces, torso, hands, and body, spatial distance, etc. How can you do that in a video chat? You really can't. Our virtual world of Amazon, Facebook, and others and the suggested products and sites based on web behavior, kind of create a feeling of intimacy and friendship. This faux intimacy is a loop that never closes because it lacks the personal connection and empathy. Video doesn't help build the personal connection the way we think it should either. Out unconscious minds are not receiving the information we would get in person although it seems like we are or that we should because we can see the other person. Humans are social beings. Our survival depends on our understanding the actions, intentions, and emotions of others. This is empathy. Our mirror neurons allow us to understand other people's mind, not only through conceptual reasoning but through imitation. Feeling, not thinking. So what can you do to build more empathy in your virtual relationships? Start by taking an empathy assessment to get insight into your level of empathy. This is from UC Berkeley: <iframe src="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/embed/empathy" width="100%" scrolling="no" id="iFrameResizer0" style="overflow: hidden; border:0;"></iframe> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/embedjs"></script> (greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/empathy) to get your baseline. From there, you might rad Roman Krznaric's "Six Habits of Highly Empathic People". As far as the interview goes? Send a solid thank you note! Stay tuned for tomorrow's topic: Lack of Control - your on-line life must be congruent with who you are and consistent
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At a staff meeting the boss said we are doing something different today, x and y suggested a different approach which I think is an excellent idea.
I’m “y”. I was surprised because it was not my idea. We had been talking about it a few days before and I mentioned to my boss that me and x were chatting and I think it’s a great idea and something we should implement in our smaller group meetings. Make a long story short x is fuming. Like so angry with me. She felt I should have said something. This was the big idea… starting from the bottom of our projects instead of the current so we can get them all in at the meeting.
Am I missing something here and should I have said something?? Should I send an email to the team giving credit where it is due.
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Hi everyone, I'm Michelle, a freelance graphic designer from Missouri.
I'm new here. I'm exploring this website and just wanted to introduce myself.
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Mental Health Awareness Month
It’s Mental Health Awareness Month—so I’m curious:
What do you do (or does your company do) to support mental well-being?
Or what do you wish you or your company could do?
For me, I really value a company policy that allows mental health leave. You don’t always have to be sick or under the weather to need time off. Sometimes, you just need space to breathe, reset, and take care of your emotional well-being—and that’s just as important.
I’m so glad more and more workplaces are embracing this, and that folks are using these policies thoughtfully and guilt-free!
What’s your take?
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I've been interviewing with a company since January and about three weeks ago, I completed the final interview.
I followed up with a thank you note and a week later, I was contacted by one of the hiring committee members (over email) and that they would let me know about the next steps.
My mind has been doing mental summersaults since then and last week, I followed up thanking them for the update and I was looking forward to the next steps. I haven't heard anything this week but between previous rounds it was sometimes long wait periods. Would there be any reason they would contact me a week after the interview if I wasn't being considered? I'd appreciate your advice as while I'm still sending out applications, I really want this role!
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Marketing lies about product features
So, I work in tech, and our company recently hired a new marketing director. She is on an aggressive push to promote new features. But she doesn't have any idea how the product works. So she is promoting features we don't have or don't work the way she claims. This is resulting in customers asking for things that do not exist.
Some of the product people, including me, have spoken up, but it is very clear that the CEO has sanctioned her activities and doesn't care that she is pushing out promotions and content that doesn't tell the truth. The only explanation that we have been given is that she has a "good track record", which doesn't really address the issue at all.
Prior to this, the company was very transparent. So this is an abrupt change. I should also note that we may have lost one large customer who did not renew because of this.
Do I need to start looking for a job? Is this a sign of desperation in the executive suite? I like this job but I know in this market, it takes a while.
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Today is my first time to log in this website. I want to share a thing may be someone do not understand my feeling.
I am so happy to get a offer last week but I find I was pregant. I notice my new company but they do not hire me even though my experience was qualified this job.
Now I am sad because I do not have a job because I am a workaholic.
How can I adjust myself
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