Knowledge Marketplace
My First Million

My First Million

The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.

Back to Quotes
Just because you've been heard doesn't mean you feel heard
empathyunderstandingpsychology

What It Means

Understanding someone intellectually is different from making them feel emotionally understood

Why It Matters

The feeling of being understood creates neurochemical bonding and trust that mere comprehension doesn't

When It's True

In all human relationships and communications, especially emotional or high-stakes situations

When It's Risky

When dealing with purely logical or transactional interactions where emotional connection isn't relevant

How to Apply

1

Focus on demonstrating understanding rather than just having understanding

2

Use tactical empathy to make people feel heard

3

Pay attention to emotional state, not just factual content

Example Scenario

A team member explains a technical problem. Instead of just saying 'I understand the issue,' acknowledge 'That must be incredibly frustrating to have the solution in mind but hit these technical roadblocks.'