Mental Health in the AEC – Sympathy vs Empathy

When someone you know, whether it’s a family member, friend, or colleague, is facing a challenging period, it can be hard to decide on the most suitable approach to provide support. Should you offer them comforting words? Should you relate your own struggles? Or should you gently transition away from the topic, hoping they, too, can move forward? 

In 2021 alone, 37,602 people of working age (16-64 years) in the United States died by suicide, a startling 33% since 2001. In the United States, male construction workers specifically are dying by suicide at an alarming rate. For every 100,000 male construction workers, 56 died by suicide in 2022.  

So, how can we address these statistics within our circle of family, friends, and colleagues? It begins with understanding the distinction between sympathy and empathy, and recognizing how these concepts can foster meaningful connections. 

What is Sympathy?

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, sympathy is “a feeling of sincere concern for someone experiencing something difficult or painful.” It can entail feelings of “pity” or “sorrow.” While sympathy can be valuable when accompanied by warmth and genuine support, it can sometimes create an emotional barrier between you and the person in distress. Sympathy involves acknowledging the needs and suffering of others yet maintaining a certain level of detachment.  

What is Empathy?

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines empathy as “the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.” Empathy fosters a collective understanding that cultivates acceptance and establishes an emotional bond. It enables individuals to feel truly understood and conveys a sincere effort to “put yourself in someone else’s shoes.”

Expressing Empathy in the A/E/C

In the A/E/C industry, technical solutions are our best friends. We speak the language of facts, figures, and statistics, but sometimes we forget that an effective client relationship requires a genuine human connection. Using empathy can help form a deeper connection with your clients by addressing their specific challenges and offering personalized solutions. Empathy can help bring humanity to written projects, creating a story that clients and stakeholders can connect with.  

Using Empathy to Become a Better Leader

According to a study from Businessolver’s 2025 State of Workplace Empathy Report, 89% of CEOs believe that a company’s financial performance is tied to empathy. Employees who view their organizations as unempathetic are 1.5 times more likely to change jobs in the next six months. An ”unempathetic” company with 2,000 employees risks $7.3 million in attrition costs. Therefore, it stands to reason that being a more empathetic business leader will produce better business outcomes. There’s no need to fear if you know little about being empathic in the workplace. Empathy can be practiced and learned through exercises such as getting to know people outside your current social group, becoming more actively involved in your community, and practicing open communication.  

When it comes to both your personal life and your position in the workplace, it can be crucial to discern the difference between sympathy and empathy. By expressing sympathy, you extend a kind gesture, but the person in distress might not feel truly heard or understood. On the other hand, by expressing empathy, you are actively listening to the person’s pain and sharing their difficult thoughts, not trying to fix them. Regularly examining your capacity for empathy towards others’ suffering can make you a more supportive and compassionate individual, and by employing empathy in the business world, you can also increase worker satisfaction and company productivity.