Leading with Empathy

We thought it was interesting, but not surprising, that we have received recent numerous requests to share our thought leadership on the subject of empathy, especially as it relates to the virtual workplace. The increased stress and mental health concerns of the pandemic have made the subject of Leading with Empathy climb to the “top of the charts” in today’s business discussions. Although it’s not a new subject, it has become even more important given today’s work from home dynamics.

So what exactly is empathy? Why is it considered perhaps the most critical leadership skill? And how empathetic are you? Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference. Said another way it requires the ability to place oneself in another’s position. This “social awareness” is a critical part of emotional intelligence, a skill that separates good leaders from great ones.

Empathy is more than just “feelings.”  It correlates positively with many business measures as explained in the Fast Company article, 5 Reasons Empathy is the most Important Leadership Skill, by Harvey Deutschendorf.  As highlighted in the article, studies show that empathy is directly related to:

1. Loyalty – Empathy increases trust resulting from a sense that employees are valued and cared about. They are more likely to stay when they feel heard and appreciated.
   
2. Engagement – When leadership demonstrates to employees that they care, the reciprocity reaction kicks in, and they want to put in more effort.
   
3. Harmonious working relationships – When empathy is passed down through an organization the result is an increase in teamwork and a decrease in staff conflict.
   
4. Happiness – Employees who feel seen, heard, and appreciated are more satisfied with their work.
   
5. Creativity – People who feel heard and appreciated tend to risk more and look for ways to add increased value to the organization

So, just how empathic are you? Here’s a scientifically validated Empathy Quiz from Greater Good Magazine. It’s less than 30 questions. Once you complete it, you’ll get an empathy score along with tips for strengthening your empathy skills.

The good news is that you can improve your ability to be empathetic. And leaders are doing just that.  According to the Wall Street Journal 20% of employers now offer empathy training, which is up substantially from 10 years prior.  In our Leading with Empathy workshops, we fully explore the subject, and provide tools & suggestions on how to improve. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you are looking for more information on how to enhance the empathy skills of your leaders. 

In sum, empathy is an essential leadership skill and that’s not changing any time soon. Cheers to an empathic 2024 for everyone!