Inspire Team

Empathy Lotto

by for .  
#design thinking
20 - 25
2

Goal

Empathy Lotto is an interactive activity that helps learners recognize different types of responses in empathetic conversations. Participants will analyze dialogue statements between two individuals (Person A and Person B) and identify the type of response provided by Person B, such as empathizing, advising, correcting, etc.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    1. Introduce the concept of empathetic responses and their impact on effective communication and understanding. NOTE: If the video from Activity Strengthening your Internal Resources has not been used, it could be used here to introduce the topic. Explain that Empathy Lotto aims to enhance participants' ability to recognize and respond empathetically in different situations.

    2. Recap the difference between empathizing, correcting, advising, sympathizing etc, with a worksheet that asks learners to match the word to the definition.

    3. Distribute the worksheet to each participant, containing a set of dialogue statements between Person A and Person B. These statements will represent various types of responses, including empathizing, advising, correcting, etc.

    4. Once everyone is ready, read through each set of dialogue, one at a time. Instruct participants to listen carefully (or to read the dialogue on their worksheets, if that’s easier for them) and ask them to record their response/guess on the worksheet, identifying the type of response provided by Person B for each statement.

      1. Option: Have learners work in pairs and discuss their ideas for each set of dialogue.

    5. Once all participants have completed their worksheets, reconvene the large group. Go through each dialogue statement as a group, discussing and confirming the correct response type.

    6. Facilitate a group discussion about the importance of empathetic responses in communication and how recognizing different response types can lead to better understanding and stronger relationships.

    7. Invite participants to share examples of when certain types of responses have been constructive or not helpful in their lives (i.e. Have you ever had someone shut down when you try to tell them something important? How did that make you feel?)


    Background

    Preparation

    • Prepare a worksheet with matching definitions to the types of statements you are discussing

    • Prepare dialogue statements that represent different types of responses in empathetic conversations.

    • Ensure you have a clear understanding of each response type to facilitate the discussion effectively.

    Technology Considerations

    • In-Person: No technology is required for this activity.

    • Virtual: If conducting the activity online, use a video conferencing platform and share the dialogue statements via screen sharing or a collaboration tool.


    Additional Context

    Depending on your group, you may want to start the activity by briefly explaining the different response types to ensure participants have a clear understanding of each one. Some groups may have a good understanding or be able to deduce what each statement represents at the outset, but it’s important to ensure they have sufficient information to be able to participate in the activity. Consider your group's understanding of empathy and community before making a decision on how to proceed. Emphasize the importance of active listening and understanding during empathetic conversations.

    Tips for Localization

    • Tailor the dialogue statements to match the participants' interests, experiences, or specific themes relevant to the learning context.

      • The examples in the appendix are meant to be changed.

    • Incorporate cultural or regional references in the statements to make the activity more relatable and engaging for the participants.

    • Consider using real-life scenarios or stories from the participants' community to demonstrate empathetic responses.

    • Have voice recordings or videos to go along with the statements, rather than written dialogue. This would support non-native speakers and provide more context in terms of intonation.

    • Consider introducing the learners to 3-5 of the response types at first, in case 10 is too many to start.


    Debrief Questions

    • Were there any response types that were challenging to identify? Why do you think that was the case?

    • How does recognizing different types of responses help in improving empathetic communication and building stronger relationships?

    • Reflect on a personal experience when you responded empathetically to someone. How did it make them feel, and how did it impact the conversation?

    • What are the potential consequences of responding with non-empathetic approaches in conversations? How can we avoid such responses in the future?

    • How can we apply the lessons learned from Empathy Lotto in our daily interactions with others, both personally and professionally?






    Comments (0) 

    Please Log in or Sign up for a FREE SessionLab account to continue.