Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says empathy isn't a soft skill — it's actually 'the hardest skill we learn'

L4sBot@lemmy.worldmod to Technology@lemmy.world – 185 points –
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says empathy isn't a soft skill — it's actually 'the hardest skill we learn'
businessinsider.com

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says empathy isn't a soft skill — it's actually 'the hardest skill we learn'::Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talked about the importance of empathy as a skill in the business world while accepting the Axel Springer Award in Berlin.

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Idk empathy came a lot more naturally to me than fucking technical writing and calc. It’s just giving a shit, you were supposed to learn it by kindergarten

It's hard if you're a sociopath, which is a prereq to being CEO

Nah, successful sociopaths understand and perfectly emulate traits like empathy, often better than those who actually experience such traits.

I have a family member who almost certainly has antisocial personality disorder and your assessment is dead on.

A lot of people think they have empathy, but for many of them it's very limited when it comes to other people who are not similar enough to the person themselves (or people close to them). E.g. people from a different background or socioeconomic class.

Empathy often ends wherever a person's perceived "tribe" ends.

I don't say this to be edgy or confrontational, but it's not like that for everyone. I am 26 and have no idea how to empathise with people, it's not an innate thing for me and I have to put a lot of effort into learning it.

Not really here to argue any point, just food for thought.

It’s not just you. I really struggle with it too. I’m terrible at maintaining friendships because of it.

Fair, it’s one of those things that can be easy to forget when not reminded unfortunately. To me empathizing just happens when I see a face. I sometimes have to remember that people like you (and my girlfriend actually) have to do it on purpose. For people like me learning empathy is more learning to channel it in positive ways rather than remembering to think of others’ feelings.

in my experience, ive had to remind a lot of my IT colleagues to have empathy, and quite often.

also, what may be natural to you isnt necessairly easy for others.