Katrin Valentin

Balancing with the Empathy Circle

Bio: Prof. Dr. Katrin Valentin works at the Lutheran University of Applied Sciences Nuremberg in Germany.

Topic: Balancing with the Empathy Circle

Abstract: This contribution presents some observations and experiences made during the implementation of various empathy circles. These relate primarily to situations in the field of climate protection, but also in organizational development and in a church context. The aim is to show the extent to which balancing processes take place at various levels, including in relation to emotions, content, power relations and self-relationships.

Otter.ai - 2025-04-05 - Katrin Valentin

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/qvJvI9uEjutZmriaPLbxfXOEp9o?view=summary

Kathleen Valentin, a professor at the Lutheran University of Applied Sciences in Nuremberg, discussed her experiences with the empathy circle, a method she has used in various contexts including climate activism, university discussions, and corporate problem-solving. She emphasized the importance of balancing empathy, power relations, and personal feelings within these circles.

Valentin highlighted how empathy circles facilitated meaningful dialogue between climate activists and deniers, leading to shared actions rather than agreement on the cause of climate change. She also noted the impact of empathy circles on power dynamics, citing examples where equal time distribution allowed for diverse perspectives to be heard. Finally, she discussed how empathy circles helped individuals reflect on their own feelings and values, leading to personal growth and better relationships.

Action Items

[ ] Send the link to Valentin's empathy circle brochure to the participants.

Outline

Introduction and Overview of Empathy Circle

Janna Weiss introduces Kathleen Valentin, a professor at the Lutheran University of Applied Sciences in Nuremberg, Germany.
Kathleen Valentin expresses her gratitude for the opportunity to speak and shares her excitement about the empathy circle.
Kathleen mentions her non-native English proficiency and offers to share a brochure about her empathy circle experiences.
She outlines the different types of empathy circles she has facilitated, including climate change, care crisis, and practical problem-solving empathy circles.

Experiences with Empathy Circles

Kathleen discusses her role as a climate activist and the various empathy circles she has facilitated, including those at her university and in a company.
She highlights the practical applications of empathy circles, such as solving room layout issues in a company and addressing declining attendance at university services.
Kathleen defines empathy as the effective experiencing of another's emotion while maintaining self-other differentiation.
She emphasizes the importance of balancing feelings and situations in empathy circles.

Balancing Empathy in Climate Change Discussions

Kathleen shares her experience with an empathy circle about climate change involving both activists and deniers.
Despite differing views on the cause of climate change, participants found common ground on actions to take.
The empathy circle allowed for thematic and content-based deliberation to evolve over time.
Kathleen notes that the focus shifted from finding a fitting idea to the value of the encounter itself.

Balancing Power Relations in Empathy Circles

Kathleen discusses the inherent power dynamics in empathy circles and how they can be addressed.
She provides examples from a room layout empathy circle in a company and a service empathy circle at her university.
In the company example, the empathy circle helped leaders understand the wisdom of all involved, leading to better solutions.
In the university example, a student's contributions were valued equally, leading to a more inclusive and effective process.

Balancing Feelings and Self-Relationship in Empathy Circles

Kathleen shares her experiences with empathy circles on the care crisis and Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny."
In a care crisis empathy circle, a participant's contributions changed after listening and reflecting.
In the "On Tyranny" empathy circle, participants discussed their reactions to fascism and how to strengthen democracy.
Kathleen emphasizes how empathy circles help individuals connect with their own feelings and take the next step in their personal and professional lives.

Conclusion and Final Remarks

Kathleen thanks the audience for their attention and offers to send a link to her brochure about the empathy circle.
She expresses gratitude for the opportunity to share her experiences and insights.
The audience applauds Kathleen's presentation, acknowledging the value of her work and contributions.