Empathy. Why? Because we all have our demons, and being able to recognize that everyone is fighting their own battle (regardless of how trivial it may seem to you) is a formidable skill to have, in my opinion. It allows for understanding, which often paves the way to friendship, rapport, and a multitude of other fundamental dynamics that allow us to foster real and lasting relationships (after all, isn't life all about the relationships we foster?).

It shows character and charisma, and I'm always rather impressed when I come across someone who is empathetic towards others. In a way, it can be a bit surprising (in a good way) to meet someone who seems able to let go of their own problems to try and understand, and maybe even be a part of someone else's, even if just for a minute.

The more you exercise the skill, the more it starts to develop into something that ends up being an important part of your character and persona.

Think about it for a second, and perhaps you'll see that empathy is, more often than not, a foundation to any kind of relationship. Whether it's empathizing with your secretary who has the flu and is a tad late on that report, or whether it's a professor who gives you a couple extra minutes on the test because you got a flat tire whilst cycling to class; it doesn't seem to matter whether it's professional, personal, or sometimes even superficial, a little empathy can go a long way in my experience.

We often forget, but we've all been "there" at one point or another.