Construction focuses on the most tangible and physical aspects of our environment. Yet, it is often described as a people-oriented business. If people are essential, psychology should be as important a research area as building information modeling or AI. Still, we mainly discuss technology, design, regulations, or financials at construction meetups.<\/p>\n
A delightful exception to the rule was Trimble BIMbuild 2025 last Thursday in Helsinki. It was filled with BIM discussions and tech demonstrations, but the first keynote speaker truly stood out.<\/p>\n
Katri Saarikivi<\/a> is a Doctor of Psychology, a cognitive neuroscientist at the University of Helsinki, and an award-winning speaker. Her key theme is empathy and its increasing importance in business today.<\/p>\n Saarikivi stated that humans\u2019 IQ game is over. The latest developments in AI have made that clear, even though machines have already beaten us physically and in data processing decades ago.<\/p>\n While Saarikivi delivered her keynote, news broke<\/a> that GPT-4.5 and Llama-3.1-405 B\u00a0had passed the Turing test. Interrogators believed they were conversing with humans 73% of the time when interacting with the AI.<\/p>\n Critics argue that the test measures intelligence rather than \u201chuman likeness.\u201d However, machines can mimic our behavior and win hearts.<\/p>\n Saarikivi referred to a study in which people chatting with an \u201cAI doctor\u201d felt it was more empathic than a human physician. An Aalto University researcher reported that AI-generated construction quality assessments were considered better than those of humans.<\/p>\n Robots will not eliminate human jobs; instead, the nature of work will change. Humans will increasingly focus on work that machines cannot do well, which requires distinctly human capabilities.<\/p>\n Saarikivi argues that empathy is emerging as the most essential work skill in the robotic age. It encompasses all the abilities needed to 1) understand others, 2) share thoughts and feelings, and 3) be motivated by helping others.<\/p>\n Empathy means understanding and sharing someone else\u2019s feelings while keeping your emotions separate. It\u2019s imagining yourself in their situation to grasp what they\u2019re going through but still knowing that their feelings are theirs and not yours.<\/p>\n In environments prioritizing objectivity, empathetic individuals may be considered overly emotional or lack the firmness required for tough decision-making. Saarikivi said that\u2019s a misconception of empathy.<\/p>\n Another myth is that empathy is an inborn characteristic. As savvy salespeople have known for ages, this skill can be cultivated and enhanced over time through intentional practice and experience.<\/p>\n Saarikivi said she was surprised at how effective a sales tactic called mirroring was. It involves subtly imitating a customer\u2019s gestures, posture, speech patterns, or attitudes during interactions.<\/p>\n COVID opened our eyes to the potential of remote interaction and work. Whether team members were in Helsinki, Berlin, or San Francisco, everyone shared the same interaction experience. Now, many still prefer remote meetings and chat interactions to in-person meetings.<\/p>\n Why don\u2019t video meetings feel the same as sitting face-to-face? Saarikivi mentioned that the main thing lacking is body language, like micro-movements that a webcam can\u2019t capture. In addition, there\u2019s always a tiny delay in communication, which messes up with our empathetic brain functions. Empathy is based on \u201cbeing in sync,\u201d and technology makes achieving that harder.<\/p>\n An audience question touched on another challenge of all-digital communication: the social skills of young people. When communicating with emojis and even preferring not to call, empathy becomes a vital skill that companies need to teach their recruits.<\/p>\n Saarikivi encourages you to ask, \u201cWhere do I need people in my work?\u201d In the AEC industry, the response is, \u201cIn every step of the process.\u201d And therefore, empathy should be given in our daily interactions.<\/p>\n Empathy is a shortcut to effective communication. When you perceive the other person as \u201clike me\u201d and collaborate \u201cwith me,\u201d teamwork becomes more enjoyable. This doesn\u2019t imply that everyone must share the same mindset, but when you regard others as equals, you can discover mutually acceptable solutions more quickly.<\/p>\n Not all human interactions require in-person meetings. However, it is essential to plan communications thoughtfully and select the appropriate medium for each situation. Technology goes beyond video conferences or chats, so consider exploring other interaction methods in your next project.<\/p>\n Many AEC companies today are investing in AI training, and rightly so. However, as we teach machines to think, we must also remember to teach ourselves to feel.<\/p>\n Saarikivi suggested in an earlier talk that we should become \u201cexplorers of the world\u201d to cultivate empathy. Even reading fiction, for example, has been scientifically proven to increase empathy. Another approach involves finding ways to get \u201con the same wavelength\u201d with others through shared experiences.<\/p>\n Is it time to consider empathy training mission-critical, just as we do with technology?<\/p>\n<\/div>\nGame over?<\/h2>\n
Empathy \u2013 our secret weapon<\/h2>\n
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Busting empathy myths<\/h2>\n
Digital interaction hampers empathy<\/h2>\n
Making collaboration efficient and effective<\/h2>\n
Should we teach empathy?<\/h2>\n