Easy Empathy: Dr. Taylor Linton

Empathy is often talked about as if it’s an innate trait—something you either have or you don’t. But in reality, empathy is a skill. And the good news? It’s one that’s easy to learn and apply when you understand the formula.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the emotions of another person.So, to show empathy in healthcare, you simply need to do two things: 1) Show your patients that you understand their emotions. 2) Take action to share in those emotions.

That might mean pausing to acknowledge a patient’s frustration, sitting down instead of standing over them, or saying something as simple as, “I can see this is really hard for you.” These small actions show understanding and invite connection.

The Myths That Hold Us Back

There are a couple of common myths about empathy that can make providers hesitant to use it in clinical settings:

• Myth #1: Empathy means giving patients what they want.→ In reality, empathy isn’t about agreeing—it’s about understanding. You can validate someone’s feelings without changing your medical decision.

• Myth #2: Empathy means agreeing with the patient’s emotions or choices.→ You can acknowledge emotion without endorsing it. Saying, “I can tell this is frustrating,” doesn’t mean you agree—it simply means you care.

True empathy strengthens patient relationships, builds trust, and improves outcomes—without compromising your professional boundaries.

The Heart of Healthcare

At the end of the day, empathy reminds us why we entered this profession in the first place. As Jacob Marley so wisely said in A Christmas Carol, “Mankind is our business.” When we focus on the business of mankind—on truly understanding and connecting with the people in front of us—everything else falls into place.

🎧 Want to learn more?Listen to my full conversation with Dr. Taylor Linton on The Medical Manners Podcast: Easy Empathy. Together, we explore simple, practical ways to make empathy part of your everyday practice.

Looking for more tools to improve the human side of medicine? Subscribe to my newsletter or check out our Medical Manners Audio Course to learn actionable ways to improve connection, communication, and patient satisfaction—without adding more time to your day.