Empathy Map workshop

You have identified and prioritised your stakeholders. Now it’s time to get to know more about the people you want to have impact for by using the Empathy Map.

About the workshop

Who is involved? Team work

Time: 1.5 hours. Time for preparation and write-up afterwards is also needed.

Preparation: Digital workshop: digital white board, meeting link, instructions on how to use the digital white-board. Physical workshop: print outs (A3 or A2) of the Empathy Map; post-it notes, pens; book a room and prepare it before the meeting.

Learning goals:

  • More in-depth understanding of the stakeholders who benefit most directly from your activity

  • Understand where the gaps in your knowledge are about your stakeholders

Results: Empathy Maps for your prioritised stakeholders

Download and print the Empathy Map canvas.

Step 1. introduction and setting the scene (0 - 15 minutes)

  • Welcome everyone

  • Short ice-breaker or round of introductions if not everyone knows each other

  • Share the progress so far - the list of prioritised stakeholders

  • Introduce the objectives of the meeting and anticipated results, alongside an overview of how the workshop will work and the timings

  • Introduce the exercise and organise everyone into small breakout groups. Each group could take a different one of the prioritised stakeholders or a few groups could take the same stakeholder to compare and contrast what they have learned

Step 2. Empathise - see/hear-do (15 - 35 minutes)

Brainstorm on what this person would typically see/hear/do every day. This will help you 'empathize' with them. Stay high level though so that this does not become one very specific person but stays representative for a group of stakeholders.

Questions to ask:

  • What behaviours do they have in common?

  • What influences them?

  • What kind of environment do they operate in?

Image credit: Impact playbook (7 of 43), Europeana Estonian Presidency Event (2017). Europeana Foundation. CC BY-SA.

Next steps