Empathic Intervision is a structured method of interaction for people working together. 5 Integrative empathy skills guide people to hold space for each other's experiences, thoughts and feelings and nurture consideration of all perspectives. Strengthened engagement where there are cultural differences or differences of opinion leads to solutions where everyone is on board.
Self-empathy---------Intention setting
Reflective empathy---------Mutual understanding
Empathic creativity---------Actionable outcomes
Kinesthetic empathy---------Connection with others
Imaginative empathy---------Diversifying perspectives
Self-empathy-------Intention setting
Kinesthetic empathy-------Connection with others
Reflective empathy-------Mutual understanding
Imaginative empathy-------Diversifying perspectives
Empathic creativity-------Actionable outcomes
When to use Empathic Intervision
Empathic intervision is versatile: it can be a peer support and peer learning process as well as a method for co-creation, problem solving and (strategic) decision making. It incorporates elements of warmth and understanding without losing sight of goals, precision and practicality. The Empathic Intervision process can be embedded into existing meeting schedules or it can be used to start a new way of working and learning together.
… what I could relate to was the reflecting [...] part. Uhm, that is something that I am still able to adapt in my everyday life.
- Empathic Intervision participant, SA
The Benefits
Empathic intervision leads to improved inter-collegial understanding and support, sharing of professional expertise, and improved quality of work.
It addresses the complexity of interpersonal dynamics in diverse groups and applies layered empathic capabilities to facilitate interpersonal processes. If left unacknowledged and unharnessed, group dynamics may undermine group processes. Empathic Intervision engages empathic capabilities to embrace unique skills and perspectives associated with diversity. This facilitates creativity and innovation rather than causing aggravations between people.
The Peer-to-Peer Practice of Empathic Intervision
This article is the first in a series on the notion and practice of Empathic Intervision Katherine Train & Lidewij Niezink
Empathic Intervision: Process and Benefits
This article is the second in a series on the notion and practice of Empathic Intervision by Lidewij Niezink & Katherine Train.
Enhancing Intervision with Empathic Practices
This article is the third in a series on the notion and practice of Empathic Intervision by Lidewij Niezink & Katherine Train.
Are you wondering whether Empathic intervision could be part of your organisational habits? Feel free to contact us and explore the options together.