Coaching uses “as if” scenarios to stimulate powerful imagination. Whenever possible, I like to make them real, so they can also be experienced and be more impactful. In one of my recent talks for a YPO chapter, I was referring to empathy as the ability to step in somebody else’s shoes.
To experience it, I have asked the audience to form couples, swap shoes, walk around and express the feelings. It was an iceberg breaker!!!
Here are some of the comments I managed to capture (the most part were in the local language and, probably, not even mentionable…): What? It hurts. I’ll walk without. This is crazy! Comfy! I can’t. Let’s swap partners. Not funny. Nice shoes! They don’t fit me.
Insightful, isn’t it?