6 Empathy Training Exercises for the Workplace
1. Active Listening Circles
In this exercise, small groups of 4–6 employees gather in a circle. One person speaks for two minutes about a work-related challenge, while others listen silently—no interrupting, no fixing. Then, one listener reflects back what they heard, not verbatim, but with emotional understanding. The goal is not to solve but to truly hear. This is followed by a group discussion.
Example: A marketing associate shares their frustration about unclear project deadlines. A colleague reflects, “It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of expectations. Is that right?”
Short-term benefits: Reduces tension, improves clarity, and prevents snap judgments.
Long-term benefits: Builds psychological safety, where team members feel confident sharing concerns and asking questions.
2. Perspective-Taking Role Plays
Teams act out workplace scenarios from another person’s point of view. This could be a peer, a customer, or someone in a different department. Participants are encouraged to voice not just words, but internal thoughts and emotions that person might feel.
Example: An engineer plays the role of a customer support agent dealing with a frustrated client, while a real support agent observes and provides feedback on how close the portrayal is to their reality.
Short-term benefits: Sparks insight into the stressors and limitations others face.
Long-term benefits: Promotes cross-functional empathy, reduces “us vs. them” thinking, and creates more informed, collaborative solutions.
3. Empathy Mapping
Often used in UX and product design, empathy maps are now being adopted by HR and leadership teams. Participants draw or digitally create a 4-quadrant map: what a person says, thinks, feels, and does. This framework helps teams understand customers, colleagues, or stakeholders more holistically.
Example: A team maps out the daily emotional landscape of a frontline healthcare worker, identifying what they might think (“Will I have backup today?”), feel (exhausted, undervalued), and say (“I just want to get through the shift”).
Short-term benefits: Brings clarity to blind spots in decision-making.
Long-term benefits: Integrates empathy into company processes—from product design to internal policy-making.
4. “Just Like Me” Reframing
Inspired by mindfulness practices, this individual exercise helps employees manage difficult interpersonal moments. Before or during a frustrating exchange, they silently repeat affirmations like:
- “This person has hopes and fears, just like me.”
- “They want to be respected, just like me.”
- “They are trying their best, just like me.”
Example: An employee receives overly critical feedback from a manager. Instead of reacting defensively, they use this reframing to stay grounded and curious about the manager’s intent.
Short-term benefits: Reduces emotional reactivity and defensiveness.
Long-term benefits: Cultivates emotional regulation and reduces workplace conflict through habitual empathy.
5. Story-Sharing Sessions
Also called “empathy salons,” these guided sessions invite employees to share personal or professional stories—especially times they felt seen, unseen, supported, or misunderstood. Facilitators model vulnerability and create clear ground rules for respectful listening.
Example: A teammate shares a story about feeling excluded in meetings due to cultural communication differences. Colleagues listen, then reflect on how they might unintentionally contribute to similar dynamics.
Short-term benefits: Builds vulnerability-based trust.
Long-term benefits: Reduces unconscious bias, fosters inclusive leadership, and strengthens team cohesion.
6. Empathy Journals
A personal but powerful practice, empathy journals prompt employees to reflect on moments where empathy was shown—or lacking—throughout their day. Prompts may include:
- “When did I really listen today?”
- “Did I make assumptions about someone’s intent?”
- “How did I respond to someone’s emotional need?”
Example: An employee writes about rushing through a colleague’s concern and realizes they need to slow down in future interactions.
Short-term benefits: Reinforces emotional self-awareness and accountability.
Long-term benefits: Encourages continuous growth and helps create a culture where empathy is normalized—not exceptional.
Empathable offers science-backed workshops and tools to help your organization build real, lasting empathy.
Contact us today to explore customized empathy training programs for your workplace.