We can all develop our empathy for other people. It starts with putting yourself in another person’s shoes. This means as though you were them, not as though they were you. Here are some ways you can do this.
1. Focus on the other person’s personality
When we are talking to someone, it’s common for us to forget that the other person is different to us. It’s common for us to make assumptions on what people like and dislike and, more importantly during conversation, what they might find interesting to talk about. To ensure the other person has a positive experience whilst talking to you, it’s a good idea to focus on topics that are of interest to them.
For example, I have difficulty talking to people who tend to talk only about their interests and have little interest in mine. It means that they have trouble putting themselves in my shoes. They are talking to me as though I was them, rather than as if they were me.