Communicate Quote by Sheryl Sandberg
“When people are really suffering, and we know they're suffering, that question can be a very difficult one. Inadvertently, I think without anyone meaning it, it communicates a lack of empathy.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Women in Leadership, 2018
Asking about suffering can unintentionally seem uncaring, even without ill intent.
In simple terms: Questions about pain can seem uncaring.
Key Takeaway
Speak empathy before probing.
Themes
empathy
communication
leadership
sensitivity
ethics
Mood
thoughtful
empathetic
Type
advisory
reflective
When to use this quote
- management meetings
- counseling sessions
- team feedback
- personal conversations
Key Concepts
emotional intelligence
compassion fatigue
social dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you frame difficult questions with compassion?
- When is it better to listen than ask?
A Different Perspective
May silence needed voices if not handled gently.
![“[Eric Schmidt] explained that only one criterion that mattered when picking a job- fat growth. When companies grow quickly, there are more things to do than there are people to do them. When companies grow more slowly or stop growing, there is less to do and too many people to not be doing them…” quote by Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/23b/sheryl-sandberg-439_feminism_eric-schmidt-explained-that-only-one-cri_16526.jpg)
