4 Tips For Speaking With Both Honesty And Empathy
Speaking with both honesty and empathy is not easy. Honesty is a fundamental value in dealing with other people. No one likes to find out that they have been cheated or betrayed. This inevitably leads to a loss of confidence in the person who lied.
When it comes to honesty, you can’t do everything, especially if you consider that the feelings of others are at stake. So honesty and empathy are two concepts that should go hand in hand.
In today’s societies, individualism, competitiveness and a misguided idea of independence are all important. Because of this, people sometimes assume that honesty is always best, but forget the consequences that their words can have on others. So how can you be honest and empathetic at the same time? We’re going to tell you.
What is honesty?
Honesty is the ability to align your thoughts, words, and actions. In this way you express what you think is true and at the same time act in accordance with what you think and say. Honesty leaves no room for lies, untruths or secrets. It also leaves no room for empty words or unfulfilled promises.
An honest person is genuine and honest and speaks the truth even if the consequences may not be favorable to him. It is a personal value that is closely related to integrity and respect for yourself and others.
What is empathy?
Empathy is the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes (Spanish link) so that you can understand their thought process and identify the emotions they experience.
Being empathetic means being mindful of the inner emotional world of others and making the effort to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for a moment to try to understand their point of view.
An empathetic person does not judge, lie or humiliate because he understands how these actions can affect the other. By taking a moment to feel that pain as their own, they choose the path of understanding, tact, and human warmth.
How are honesty and empathy related?
While it may seem at first glance that honesty and empathy have little in common, the reality is that they are both essential in everyday life. In other words, one without the other can have negative consequences.
For example, an excess of empathy can lead you to lie to avoid harming others, which is known as a “white lie.” While this can prevent conflict in the short term, it can eventually lead to feelings of guilt and betrayal in the other person when they discover the lack of honesty.
On the other hand, sincerity without empathy doesn’t work either. If you are direct and sincere without regard for the emotional aspect, other people may see you as harsh, rude, or tactless. As a result, you may experience social rejection or interpersonal conflict.
4 tips for speaking with both honesty and empathy
To be clear, honesty and empathy must go hand in hand if you want to maintain healthy interpersonal relationships. However, it is not always easy to apply these two concepts together. Here we will share some tips to help you.
1. Respect others
When communicating with other people, you must remember that respect is fundamental. Respecting others means believing that they deserve to know the truth and that you should be honest with them. However, it also means that you have to be considerate of their feelings, as no one is intentionally harming someone they respect.
2. Work on your assertiveness
Assertive communication is essential (Spanish link). Sometimes the fear of being rejected or that others will reject your opinion can lead you to lie to try to please. For the same reason, you should work on your confidence and learn to express yourself assertively.
If you let the aggressiveness take over and you can’t control your impulses, you can easily hurt other people with your words . Remember that you don’t have to belittle the other person’s point of view for yours to count.
3. Use constructive language
If you have to pass on unpleasant information to someone else, it is best to use constructive language. What does this mean? Choosing the right words and offering solutions instead of criticizing or judging.
4. Be aware of your non-verbal communication
Non-verbal communication is even more important than words when it comes to conveying a message. Aspects like your voice, body language, or the time and place you choose to discuss an idea can make a big difference. Remember to pay attention to these things so that the other person doesn’t feel attacked or threatened.
Speaking with both honesty and empathy can help your well-being
Our values define us as people and we demonstrate them through our actions and interactions with others. Practicing honesty and empathy in everyday life may take effort in the beginning, but in the long run it leads to better personal and social well-being.
