Empathy, it’s a word being used more and more in 2020 for obvious reasons. I had a mentor I highly respected many years ago tell me I had a high “Emotional IQ”. Those words have stuck with me and I’ve tried to practice it throughout my life and career.
In the last couple of months, I’ve offered up a time to help people affected by the pandemic and subsequent layoffs with career, networking, and “personal brand” advice. Many have expressed frustration with companies and staffing firms that don’t follow up and/or provide any feedback when they have been denied a position.
My response to them is to put themselves in their shoes:
#1) Staffing firms are under a tremendous amount of pressure to produce for their clients and their company. Many have layoffs or terminations that loom over their heads as they scramble to get new requisitions and fill them.
#2) Companies have similar stressors, the future is murky and they are working on roles that are now receiving hundreds of applications vs. maybe a hundred. They may have reduced staff as well and be challenged by prospective candidates who are risk-averse during such ambiguous times.
From current job seekers their behavior is driven by a myriad of fears:
- Long term unemployment
- Looming Mortgage payments
- Loss of insurance benefits during a global pandemic
- Self-esteem and value challenges fueled by the frustrations of bullets #1 and #2.
A potential silver lining of this pandemic is that we as a human family are ALL experiencing this shared tragedy at the exact same time.
To name just a few:
- Personal illness, family, and friends in hospitals, sometimes recovering and sometimes not
- Job loss
- Children at home instead of school, watching them suffer day-to-day
- Almost a year of consistent isolation
- Inability to even hug each other or have any physical contact outside of your direct family
My message here, we have an opportunity to be more empathetic, helpful, and loving with one another. Our shared empathy could be one of the most rewarding and valuable experiences we can give to each other. Remember, behind every email, phone call, and Zoom there is someone who is suffering and stressed in a myriad of ways.
So ask yourself, “How do I want to be remembered during these unprecedented times?”.
Stay safe, healthy, and please let me know how I can help you!
Love and virtual hugs!
Mike D.
