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How many times have we heard the expression "put yourself in someone else’s shoes"? This simple phrase contains the essence of empathy, an extraordinary quality that allows us to understand and share the emotions of others with sensitivity and openness, enhancing interpersonal relationships and the working environment.
Lucy Dal Passo, Head of Technical Sales Support Polyethylene in the Global Commercial unit of Versalis, knows how important empathy is for creating authentic connections with others, encouraging self-expression and supporting diversity in an inclusive way.
Lucy, of Indian heritage, has always believed that uniqueness lies in our awareness of our identity. Indeed, every individual carries with them a valuable store of experiences, cultures, and perspectives. And thanks to her empathic qualities, Lucy always manages to understand and value what makes each person special and unique.
Empathy is one of the components of emotional intelligence, i.e. the ability to monitor one's own feelings and those of others in order to achieve one's goals. According to psychologist and writer Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence consists of five elements: Awareness, Self-regulation, Motivation, Empathy and Social skills. Empathy, in particular, is useful for building solid and authentic relationships, fostering mutual understanding and improving the quality of interactions.
The anthropologist and sociologist Gregory Bateson defines empathy as an "emotional response oriented towards the other, in harmony with the perception of his well-being". This means it plays an essential role in interpersonal relationships. Several studies have shown that arousing empathy towards an individual belonging to a stigmatised group can help reduce prejudice against the entire group.
Empathy has the power to elicit altruistic motivations that transcend self-interest. These motivations lead individuals to value the well-being of others, regardless of their membership of a particular group. Through a process of identification with the other, empathy fosters the perception of similarities rather than differences, leading to deeper understanding and a more intense emotional connection.
The resulting ability to connect with others not only improves the working environment, but also contributes to the achievement of shared goals and overall well-being.
ONE PIECE OF ADVICE: “Always be unique; your identity has strong roots that should be cultivated on a daily basis.”
Lucy Dal Passo
Global Commercial | Head of Technical Sales Support Polyethylene
In terms of diversity and inclusion, this unique quality is a fundamental tool to dismantle the psychological barriers that support prejudice and discrimination. By fostering the ability to put ourselves in another's shoes, we can better understand the experiences and challenges of people belonging to groups other than our own.
In this way, empathy helps to break down entrenched stereotypes and create a more inclusive and welcoming environment, where difference is perceived as an asset and relationships are based on respect and the uniqueness of every individual is valued.
In Ravenna, a concrete example of how the principles of diversity and inclusion can foster integration between different generations and create an efficient and inclusive operational reality.
An evolving company requires new energy. To overcome the challenges of the future, different ideas, skills, cultures and professionalism are needed.
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