Public Persona and Empathy

There is a disconnect between how we perceive ourselves and how others perceive us. We go out everyday with an idea of how we relate to others, but this is only verified in public. From privacy to performance, empathy plays an overwhelming role in effective communication. This is true in fields like being a lawyer, managing a business, or organizing a social event. When people don't connect with you, they don't hear or understand you. How crazy is that? You could be lucid and brilliant, you could be totally reasonable, but if your audience isn't comfortable, your message is lost.

Connection starts with compassion. It asks the question, "How are others feeling and why?" "How am I feeling and why?" Addressing that before proceeding with whatever you planned, will lead to real communication. In our minds, we map the result, but we cannot account for our audience. The message may be unsuitable or the material may need tweaking, yet there is no way of knowing ahead of time. Intuition guides us, but other minds determine our fate. The focus on empathy, no matter the result, improves the method and begets appreciation.