An empathy gap is a cognitive bias where we underestimate the impact a visceral state has on our attitude or behaviours.
If we are dealing with someone who is angry, it is really hard for us to accurately gauge how much this “anger” is influencing what they say they want or need.
Basically, we can do our best to empathise, but the cognitive bias tells us that it’s likely we still have a gap.
One take-away is that our physiological state remains king when it comes to influencing our behaviour.
Knowing this, if we are working with others, what tools do we have to be able to not just observe and acknowledge “state,” but provide an environment that promotes calmer, more abundant states for the nervous system?
How could this help reduce the gap, and how might reducing the gap help communication and the outcome of the team?
