for example, argues that empathy accounts for 50 percent of trust; the other 50 percent, he says, is shared about equally by dedication, openness, and competence. He often quotes an old saying to the effect that people (especially people who are upset) don’t care what you know until they know that you care.
So if you do care, showing you care is obviously crucial. What isn’t so obvious is how to show you care, how to express your empathy.