3 Steps to Sympathising with a Victim

Say someone you know lost a loved one or is a victim of an attack, you’re expected to show sympathy. However, some of us that have been in that situation, don’t know how to sympathise with people. 

To the person that is grieving, it would feel to them like you’re either not their friend, or that you’re happy about their loss. How do you go about explaining to everyone that you just didn’t know how to sympathise with them?

MTN Nigeria was in a similar situation when sometime late 2019, Nigerians took to the streets in xenophobia reprisal attacks, and in the process destroyed shops and carted products belonging to their trade partners.

The company took three steps in sympathising with their trade partners; they called, visited the outlets and assisted the partners. There’s something in MTN’s action for you to learn from, and become better at sympathising.

How to Sympathise MTN Style

Step 1 – Call the victim immediately

It’s better to call and get it over with, because if you’ve noticed, the more you postpone from calling, the harder it becomes. And, before you know it, you’ve given up entirely on picking your phone to call.

Step 2 – Visit the affected victim

Take time out to visit them. It’s understandable that you’re worried you wouldn’t know what to say. This position can feel awkward, however, all that they may need at that time are not talks, but a shoulder to lean on.

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Step 3 – Assist in anyway that you can

A grieving person doesn’t usually have time to take care of themselves. So, send food, gifts, money, and help. Anything that comes to mind can be helpful in alleviating the person’s pain and soothing their loss.

MTN went the extra mile to organise a “Y’ello Partners Appreciation Day” event. The company treated its trade partners to nights of good food, fine drinks, and good-humored banter in the cities of Abuja, Lagos, and Owerri. You’re not MTN, so no one expects you to go that far. A call, visit, and help is okay.

Now that you know what to do to sympathise with someone, go ahead and become a better version of yourself, dishing out sympathy like it’s hot.