The Future of Empathy

There’s a report on a study from the University of Michigan this morning which I find to be both alarming and depressing. Of course, the findings of the report would have to be accurate although I suspect they are, and the implications to business are, in my mind, pretty apparent.What the study finds is that college students today are less empathetic to others than were college students 10 years ago. To sum up:

The research finds that college students today show 40% less empathy vs. students in the 1980s and 1990s. The students are less likely to agree with statements such as “I often have tender, concerned feelings for people less fortunate than me” and “I sometimes try to understand my friends better by imagining how things look from their perspective.”

Think about that for a minute. We spend a lot of time here talking about how today’s world is about conversations – with customers, partners, employees, everyone. When empathy decreases, so too does our ability to conduct conversations since our ability to get inside the other person’s words is lessened.

From another perspective, when we ask ourselves how can people (and it is people – companies are legal entities, not thinking beings) permit unsafe conditions in mines or oil wells to go unfixed (or to cover up their existence) in the name of profit, I think a lack of empathy for those harmed is part of the cause.  Managing people well requires empathy.  How does this study bode for the future of management?

Part of what the study finds is related both to social networks (contact via technology doesn’t permit the face to face, nonverbal communication that helps foster empathy) and the tremendous push to “get ahead”.  As one kid says, “With so much time and effort devoted to yourself so you can succeed, who has time for others?”

That’s scary to me.  Without all of the others – customers, employees, partners, and prospects – none of us can succeed.  Am I off base?