Poly: “Hi, Don. Sorry, I am looking for the document for project Shelf, have you seen it today?”

Don: “No”

Don gave the short answer above, without even raising his head to look at Poly, and he continued with his business.

Poly received Don’s response with a feeling of dismissal by an insensitive colleague… he could have treated her better, she thought, notwithstanding the fact that he was not in a position to help.

For Don, the response was adequate and given instantly and therefore efficient. Poly could move the next person who might be in position to assist.

Poly’s approach was to first pay salutations by saying hello and then politely introduced her predicament as she asked for help. There is the human element loaded in her request to Don.

Don was dismissive, behaviour that generally and naturally raises emotions in human beings. He was oblivious to his response being a sharp retort, especially that he did not gesture any particular attention to the person appealing for his assistance. For all he knew, Poly could have been flustered, with tears welling in her eyes because she spent the last twelve hours looking for the document and only had half an hour before her presentation.

Don suddenly remembers that he was aware that Tim and Sally had a meeting in the Boardroom the day before and they had mentioned to him that they were analyzing an aspect in a project that would be presented the next day. He also remembered that Tim indicated that because it was urgent, he had to pick something up from an office when everyone had gone out to lunch. Could it be the document that Poly was looking for? Don still doesn’t know where the document is, but had he taken a few seconds to even look at Poly and sensed her desperation, he could have given her information that could have helped or even saved her! Oh, but it’s too late now… Poly is already with the client … apologizing and requesting to reschedule the presentation…

This illustration is my way of explaining why it is important to be empathetic in the workplace and life in general…it costs nothing to package your responses to colleagues and with practice, haste and insensitivity can be replaced with a more positive aura which is more beneficial to the actors and organization as a whole.

#letsshare!