"Facts, Impressions, Empathy"

Hello.
Aoyagi here.

Thank you to everyone who commented on last week's column, "How much can you be impressed, and how much can you impress others?"

I have replied to your comments, so please take a look.


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Now, let's move on to this week's column.


It's Friday already, isn't it?

I fondly remember looking at the TV guide in the newspaper as a child, curious about what was on "Friday Roadshow."


So, this week's column is about "Facts, Impressions, and Empathy."

Both in everyday conversation and at work, there are times when I feel like my message was "clearly understood," and other times when I feel like it was "just brushed aside."

I've been thinking about what makes that difference.


I suddenly realized that the "depth" of how something is conveyed is different.





For example, in a common conversation:


"XX's new song came out" – This is a "fact."

It conveys information, but it doesn't leave much of an impression on the other person's mind.



Next,

"XX's new song was good" – This is an "impression."

By adding a little bit of your own feelings, it becomes much more human.



And, taking it one step further,

"XX's new song was about Japanese history, and I think you, a history lover, would definitely like it!"

I think this is the kind of statement that evokes "empathy."



By considering the other person's interests and background and adding "their perspective" to your own impressions, the way the message is conveyed changes dramatically.

Even with the same story, it's not "what to convey," but "how to convey it" that matters.



"Facts" are information.

"Impressions" are your own feelings.

And "empathy" is the moment when the other person's feelings and your own feelings intersect.





When we talk with an understanding of this difference, I feel that the depth of our conversations increases significantly.


From "facts" to "empathy."


I believe that by being aware of this, communication can become much richer.


Conversely, when you want to talk casually, simply stating the facts is also an option.