Empathy: The Bridge Connecting People
I have grown up around technology, and have a love for all things that have electrons flowing through them. I do not, however, understand them by 1’s and 0’s, rather I see them as abstract concepts - puzzle pieces that fit together seeking to fulfill a purpose.
So it is that I have spent my life in pursuit of ways to connect people with technology and found that sometimes you have to get the technology out of the way and understand the person and their need in order to successfully apply technology to make their issue ‘better’.
Empathy is what brings our endeavors humanity and sets us apart from those machines we so love to throw at our problems. It reminds us we are individuals in a sea of other individuals - in need of an outstretched hand.
For instance, the promise of social media is in the hope to touch lives we otherwise would not have met - to break through geographical boundaries. Or perhaps it is to reach across the fence in our backyard to a neighbor we might not have otherwise acknowledged with anything other than a nod or a waive of the hand.
Technology is a tool, like any other, to be used or abused. However, it is empathy that helps us connect; empathy is bridge connecting people - not technology.
This post was inspired by David Armano’s post When Marketing Feels Shallow, Go Deep. His blog, Logic & Emotion, is a wonderful read.
Photo credit to Dayaran.
Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.
Must Reads
To all of my readers, I hope you are well. I thought I would take a pause and share with you some really great resources for business and technology on the web that I’ve enjoyed.
- The Death of the Copier blog by Greg Walters is a great read for all of you in the output industry. Greg shares his wit and humor to highlight some of the malfunctions in our industry, and offers constructive advice on how to see through the garbage.
- Ed Crowley and the gang at The Photizo Group are putting together a great place to share information over at the Managed Print Services Resource Center.
- Corey Smith, with Dealer Marketing Systems, just started a new blog over at Copier Catalog. This is actually targeted at the independent dealer trying to stay afloat on the web, but it is actually great content for anyone looking to learn something about the web or customer service.
- Last, but certainly not least, Know the Network blog, full of tips and tricks on just about anything network related. And just in case you like having your feathers ruffled, Tsudonimh is sure to dish up some juicy opinions on current politics. Stop by if you have the chance and give him a read.
Ken Stewart’s blog, ChangeForge.com, focuses on the collision between the constantly changing worlds of business and technology. Ken is also the Director of Technology at Kearns Business Solutions.
-
ChangeForge... a catalyst to affect the paradigm by Ken Stewart is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.changeforge.com. -
-
