Robert Brooks is one of today's leading speakers on the
themes of resilience, motivation, and family relationships. During the
past 30 years, Dr. Brooks has presented nationally and internationally to
thousands of parents, educators, mental health professionals, and business
people with a message based on encouragement, hope, and resilience. He is
on the faculty of Harvard
Medical School and the former Director of the Department of Psychology
at McLean Hospital.
He is author or
co-author of 15 books including:Handbook of
Resilience
and has written numerous articles about empathy. He writes, "In my workshops and writings I have consistently
emphasized the importance of empathy as an essential skill for enriching
our lives... If empathy is not translated into behavior it will indeed be
a "sideshow." However, when empathy serves as a guiding light for our
behaviors, showing us the path that leads to compassion and caring, it
becomes a potent force that will improve the lives not only of our
children but ourselves as well. The more we bring together theory, skills,
and actions, the more we can engage in activities that permit us to lead
purposeful, fulfilling, caring lives.."
"a common characteristic of individuals who are successful as business
leaders, teachers, parents, spouses, or healthcare professionals is their
ability to be empathic. Empathic people are skilled in placing themselves
inside the shoes of another person and seeing the world through that
person’s eyes. It is not surprising that Daniel Goleman listed empathy as
one of the main components of emotional intelligence. In my activities as
a therapist and consultant as well as in my personal life, I have come to
believe that empathy is implicated in all of our relationships, impacting
on the satisfaction and effectiveness with which we interact with others." Sub
Conference: Home & Family
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"I have
frequently been asked at my workshops what I consider to be one of the
most salient characteristics of a successful parent or teacher or
business leader. While there are several, what I typically mention first
is the ability to be empathic. It is interesting that in his seminal
writings about the concept of Emotional Intelligence (EQ), Daniel
Goleman lists empathy as one of the main components of EQ. I would like
to devote the first couple of columns written for my Web site to the
concept of empathy."
March 15, 1999 - The Importance of Empathy: A
Significant Feature of the Mindset of Successful People – Part II
"In my last column I emphasized that a common
characteristic of individuals who are successful as business leaders,
teachers, parents, spouses, or healthcare professionals is their ability
to be empathic. Empathic people are skilled in placing themselves inside
the shoes of another person and seeing the world through that person’s
eyes. It is not surprising that Daniel Goleman listed empathy as one of
the main components of emotional intelligence. In my activities as a
therapist and consultant as well as in my personal life, I have come to
believe that empathy is implicated in all of our relationships,
impacting on the satisfaction and effectiveness with which we interact
with others."
To Nurture Caring and Empathy in Children: Let’s Rely on Modeling and
Action, Not Lecturing
During the past month I have had the opportunity to speak with thousands
of staff, faculty, and administrators in school districts throughout the
United States as they prepare for the new school year. I am often asked
to describe those mindsets and strategies that enrich the social and
emotional climate of a classroom- a climate in which motivation,
learning, and hope are reinforced in students.
One key message in all of my talks is the importance of providing
students with opportunities to contribute to the well-being of others,
activities that promote empathy, compassion, and resilience. My decision
to devote this month's article to this topic was based, in part, upon
reading a piece written by Maia Szalavitz titled "How Not to Raise a
Bully: The Early Roots of Empathy."
Empathy: Turning Feelings and Beliefs into Action In my workshops and
writings I have consistently emphasized the importance of empathy as an
essential skill for enriching our lives... If empathy is not translated into behavior it will
indeed be a "sideshow." However, when empathy serves as a guiding light
for our behaviors, showing us the path that leads to compassion and
caring, it becomes a potent force that will improve the lives not only
of our children but ourselves as well. The more we bring together
theory, skills, and actions, the more we can engage in activities that
permit us to lead purposeful, fulfilling, caring lives.
