Empathy & perspective-taking
Seek to understand another person's experience, feelings or viewpoint and take it into account.
Why it matters
Hearing how someone describes a situation can help you respond with greater care. Checking your understanding leaves room for them to explain their experience, rather than relying on what you imagine they feel. Understanding their view does not require agreeing with it.
What this can look like
- considers how a situation may look from another person’s position
- checks assumptions about another person’s experience by asking them to describe it
- adapts a response after hearing another person’s viewpoint
Youth relevance
A disagreement with a friend or an uneven share of work in a group project may look different to each person involved. Young people can listen to how a peer experiences the situation before deciding how to respond.
Ways young people can practise this skill
- explore how peers describe their different experiences of a shared situation
- listen to community members’ views before responding to a concern
- reconsider a response to a disagreement after hearing the other person’s perspective
Connected themes
Related skills
Explore these connected skills for another perspective.
Communication
Active listening
Pay attention to another person’s meaning and check that you have understood it.
Inclusion & diversity
Intercultural competence
Interact thoughtfully across cultural differences and recognise that norms and perspectives may vary.
Collaboration & teamwork
Negotiation & resolving disagreements
Work through differing needs or positions to reach a workable way forward.