Empathy In Leadership

For the last 3 months I've been training people managers on recognizing and managing mental health issues in the workplace. One of the aspects that comes out during our discussions as most important, is empathy. It's an essential leadership skill that builds trust and creates super teams.

A recent study by EY showed that having an empathetic leader leads to:

• 87% higher creativity

• 87% higher job satisfaction

• 85% productivity

A skeptic would perhaps challenge those results, but in fact, if you think about it, they make absolute sense. I'll share with you some tips on how to cultivate empathy in your team:

Get to know your teammates as people

Invest time and effort to make genuine connections, to learn more about your team not just as employees, but as people. Understand their struggles, their joys, their hobbies and their personality beyond the role.

Listen more and talk less

Give your team your time and undivided attention. Create formal and informal opportunities not only to give, but most importantly perhaps, to receive feedback. Learn about their challenges, intentions and needs so you can serve them better towards your common goal.

Ask more questions

Instead of making assumptions, ask more questions. When you notice a teammate is changing patterns in performance or behaviour, ask with the intention of receiving more information and understanding. Don't ask to confirm what you already assume. Lean in with the intention of being changed by their answer.

Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable

Long gone are the days of the distant leader, sitting on his/her throne appearing untouchable and invincible. Experience and research has shown that leaders who show their human side and express genuine vulnerability, create bridges of trust and psychological safety that bring teams together.