##Gear Up Pre-work

1. *What role does empathy play in your life and how has it helped you?*
  Empathy, to me, is best described as a lack of selfishness.  It means to be aware of the people in your environment, especially those you interact with most, have consideration for their feelings, listen actively and be honest when you talk. It is important to have appreciation for their impact on your life and express that from time to time.  Being an empathetic person has helped me develop stronger relationships with my family, friends, and coworkers and have a more fulfilling life.

2. *How does empathy help you build better software?*
  If you understand the needs of your clients and the end user you can create a better product.  There has to be some caring involved otherwise you're not working towards a quality product, the work is just for the sake of production.  I expect it would also help get to a finished product more quickly.  If you can experience - or get a better idea of - the real world problem then you can ask critical questions early and develop a more thorough solution.

3. *Why is empathy important for working on a team?*
  I think it's most important for communication.  You have to treat people with respect and create and environment that is open so everyone can contribute constructively.  Active listening and honest discussion are critical.

4. *Describe a situation in which your ability to empathize with a colleague or teammate was helpful.*
  At one point I worked for a construction manager within a larger real estate group that had responsibility for construction and maintenance of facilities throughout the U.S.  He was always conscious of the feelings of the people in our work group.  If someone was struggling he would have one-on-one discussions to work through the problem.  We worked more effectively because everyone felt comfortable with each other and we tried to address problems early on.  I've tried to maintain this practice in my personal and professional life every since.

5. *When do you find it most difficult to be empathetic in professional settings?  How can you improve your skills when faced with these situations?*
  It's most difficult for me to deal with people who have an 'I don't care' attitude.  I always feel like there's no way to constructively solve the problem because the person is unwilling to try.  I usually have trouble with anger and frustration in these situations and I have to keep my emotions in check to ensure I'm not making the situation worse.  But, I also have found some of the greatest growth personally and have made unlikely friendships when dealing with these situations in the past.  It doesn't make it any easier, it's always difficult, but effort has to be made and you have to think creatively to try to connect with the person on a human level and find common ground.