Empathy is vital for fostering a happy and safe workplace, making it a key quality for leaders wanting to inspire, motivate, and engage their employees. It’s all about understanding what your employees are going through, demonstrating empathy, and having the ability to put yourself in their shoes to try and understand their thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Empathetic leadership has taken on a whole new meaning since the Covid-19 pandemic. With the world heading into increased unpredictability and uncertainty, people are experiencing higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. As a result, they are seeking employers who can understand and empathize with what they have been going through.
Heather E. McGowan, Author of ‘The Empathy Advantage: Leading the Empowered Workforce’ spoke about how this has changed the way we pick leaders today on The Talent Experience Podcast.
“We used to pick the leader who was the unquestioned expert, who could make decisions in certainty, who could drive productivity with domination, fear, and sometimes humiliation. Now that all backfires because you can’t make those decisions in certainty, you don’t have all that information, you have to understand your people, what they’ve been through, and what they can contribute.”
Leaders of today need to have a level of emotional intelligence to ensure their people feel understood, cared for, and supported as they encounter challenges in their personal and professional lives.
What is empathetic leadership?
Empathetic leadership is a leadership style where leaders genuinely understand and share the feelings, perspectives, and experiences of their team members. It means being able to step into others’ shoes, recognize their emotions, and respond with genuine care and appropriate support.
An empathetic leader creates a safe environment where team members feel heard, valued, and understood, which leads to stronger relationships, better collaboration, and improved team performance.
What’s the importance of empathy in the workplace?
Empathy is a vital leadership competency that plays a crucial role in creating a positive and productive work environment. Empathetic leaders understand the needs, concerns, and emotions of their team members, which helps to build trust, foster open communication, and promote collaboration.
When employees feel heard, valued, and understood, they are more likely to be engaged, motivated, and committed to the organization. Empathy in the workplace also helps to reduce conflicts, improve decision-making, and increase job satisfaction.
Empathetic leaders understand that their team members are not just employees but individuals with unique experiences and emotions. By recognizing and addressing these, leaders can create a supportive environment where everyone feels valued.
This approach not only enhances individual well-being but also contributes to a more cohesive and productive team. In essence, empathy in the workplace is the glue that holds a successful organization together.
Why the empathetic leadership style within your organization is a win-win for all?
Employees that experience empathy from their leaders are known to experience less burnout, more motivation, and increased work-life balance. A Catalyst survey of nearly 900 employees also found that empathy is an important driver of innovation, engagement, and inclusion. Here are some of the survey’s most impactful findings:
- Higher employee engagement. 76% of employees with highly empathic leaders report they are often or always engaged, compared to only 32% of employees with less empathic leaders.
- Increased innovation. 61% of employees with highly empathic leaders report they are more innovative at work compared to only 13% with less empathic leaders.
- Higher retention. 57% of white women and 62% of women of color who feel their life circumstances are respected and valued by their employer report never or rarely thinking of leaving their organization. In contrast, ony 14% of white women and 30% of women of color who didn’t feel like their employer valued or respected their life circumstances reported that they never or rarely think about leaving the organization.
- Increased inclusivity. 50% of people with highly empathic leaders report often or always experiencing inclusion at work, compared to only 17% of those with less empathic leadership.
- Better work-life balance. 86% of employees who feel that their leaders are more empathetic report being much more able to balance work obligations with family and personal obligations, compared to 60% with less empathic leaders.
Developing empathetic leadership skills is essential for creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.
These findings show how critical empathetic leadership is in building a healthier, engaged, and motivated workforce. Genuine empathy allows leaders to connect with their people on a deeper level to understand their values and motivators. This enables leaders to create the right work environment needed for their happiness, productivity, and performance.
How to lead with empathy: 5 best ways
Empathy is a skill, and fortunately, every skill can be learned and perfected over time. Here are a few ways you can start empathizing with your people as an empathetic leader:
Research by Harvard Business Publishing shows that companies with a strong emphasis on empathy in their culture are more likely to be top performers.
1. Take the time to listen and understand your people
Leading with empathy requires you to understand the unique situations of each of your team members. Ask them questions and listen intently. Learn more about them as people and take time to understand their life circumstances so you can tailor their work arrangements and priorities accordingly.
When employees feel like their leader genuinely cares about their feelings and personal situations, they become more engaged and happy at work. Not only will their performance improve, but they will be more willing to go the extra mile if they know their leader would do the same for them.
2. Advocate for their career progression and growth
Engage in meaningful career conversations with your employees to uncover their professional goals. Where do they see themselves in the future? What are their current career goals? What do they enjoy most about their job? Understanding what these are will enable you to be a better advocate for them in the future.
A talent marketplace like Fuel50 enables you to help employees develop their skills, and offer them internal opportunities to progress in their career. This approach puts the employee first, making them feel valued while also will demonstrating that you are willing to support their growth and help them reach their full potential. This will also impact the bottom line of your business through improved productivity, engagement, and retention.
You need to help people connect with their own internal drive that motivates them to learn and adapt on their own. And empathy is really an important part of that. – Heather E. McGowan, Thought Leader & Author
3. Look out for their wellbeing
Constant burnout and stress can be extremely damaging to employee wellbeing and morale if not addressed swiftly and promptly. It can lead to disengagement, work-related injuries, and employee turnover.
If you notice an employee struggling with their workload, reach out and see how they are. A simple “how are you?” or “how are you feeling with your current workload?” can make all the difference. Empathetic leaders can spot burnout early on, helping to reduce issues before they eventuate.
Even more, empathetic leaders work to create a safe space for employees to speak up and voice their concerns, and initiate positive reinforcement for those who do speak up when at risk of burnout.
The emotional turmoil caused by COVID-19 has resulted in workforce burnout and has prompted us to reflect on and reframe what makes a great leader. Empathy, [which was] once considered a ‘nice to have,’ now needs to be woven into corporate culture. – Silke Muenster, Chief Diversity Officer of PMI
4. Communicate with transparency and kindness
Clear and transparent communication is key to building a good rapport with employees and acknowledging they are being heard. Be transparent with your team and keep them informed of the organization’s goals, opportunities and challenges, and other important information that may affect them. This helps build trust and ensures they aren’t blindsided or misinformed.
As a leader, communicating with kindness will set an example for your employees to communicate the same way. This will make them feel more comfortable to open up to you and to others within the team, helping to facilitate effective collaboration, teamwork, and honest feedback.
5. Encourage and ask for feedback to develop empathy skills
It’s important to create a culture of open feedback to encourage continuous improvement. Take the time to understand what employees are experiencing by asking for their input and feedback. This is especially crucial when implementing new processes or procedures. Gain insights from employees to ensure these processes are working for them, or if tweaks may need to be made to ensure they are effective and efficient.
Encouraging feedback will help uncover issues that may be festering. Anonymous surveys can also be a great way of facilitating this feedback. Empathy plays a big role in making employees feel comfortable enough to open up and share feedback honestly.
How to create a culture of empathy in the workplace?
Creating a culture of empathy in the workplace requires a deliberate and sustained effort from leaders and managers. Here are some strategies for creating a culture of empathy:
- Teach listening skills: Leaders and managers should teach listening skills to their team members, which includes active listening, asking open-ended questions, and paraphrasing. This helps ensure that everyone feels heard and understood.
- Demonstrate empathy: Leaders and managers should demonstrate empathy in their interactions with team members, which includes showing genuine interest, understanding, and compassion. Leading by example sets the tone for the entire organization.
- Foster open communication: Leaders and managers should foster open communication in the workplace, which includes encouraging team members to share their thoughts, feelings, and concerns. Open communication builds trust and transparency.
- Promote psychological safety: Leaders and managers should promote psychological safety in the workplace, which includes creating a safe and supportive environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. This safety net allows for honest and open dialogue, essential for a thriving workplace.
What are the traits of an empathetic leader?
Empathetic leaders possess a unique set of traits that enable them to connect with their team members on a deeper level. Some of the key traits of an empathetic leader include:
- Emotional intelligence: Empathetic leaders have high emotional intelligence, which enables them to recognize and understand the emotions of others. This awareness allows them to respond appropriately to their team members’ needs and concerns.
- Active listening: Empathetic leaders are active listeners who give their undivided attention to their team members and make them feel heard and valued. They listen not just to respond, but to understand.
- Genuine interest: Empathetic leaders show a genuine interest in the lives and well-being of their team members, which helps to build trust and rapport. They care about their team members beyond their professional roles.
- Empathy skills: Empathetic leaders have developed their empathy skills through practice and experience, which enables them to understand and relate to the needs and concerns of their team members. This skill is essential for creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.
- Soft skill: Empathy is a soft skill that is essential for effective leadership, as it helps to build strong relationships and promote collaboration. It is a skill that can be honed over time, leading to more effective and compassionate leadership.
How to overcome challenges and resistance to change?
Empathetic leadership is not without its challenges. Here are some common challenges that leaders and managers may face when trying to implement empathetic leadership:
- Resistance to change: Some team members may resist changes to the leadership style or culture, which can make it difficult to implement empathetic leadership. Overcoming this resistance requires patience, communication, and demonstrating the benefits of empathy.
- Lack of emotional intelligence: Some leaders and managers may lack the emotional intelligence needed to understand and relate to the needs and concerns of their team members. Investing in emotional intelligence training can help bridge this gap.
- Time constraints: Leaders and managers may feel that they do not have the time to practice empathetic leadership, which can make it difficult to implement. Prioritizing empathy and integrating it into daily interactions can help manage this challenge.
- Cultural barriers: Empathetic leadership may be more challenging in cultures where emotional expression is discouraged or where there are significant power dynamics. Addressing these cultural barriers requires sensitivity and a tailored approach to empathy.
How to measure the impact of empathetic leadership?
Measuring the impact of empathetic leadership can be challenging, but there are several metrics that leaders and managers can use to evaluate its effectiveness. Here are some common metrics:
- Employee engagement: Empathetic leadership can lead to increased employee engagement, which can be measured through surveys and feedback. Engaged employees are more productive and committed to their work.
- Job satisfaction: Empathetic leadership can lead to increased job satisfaction, which can be measured through surveys and feedback. Satisfied employees are more likely to stay with the organization and perform at their best.
- Productivity: Empathetic leadership can lead to increased productivity, which can be measured through metrics such as sales, revenue, and customer satisfaction. A motivated and supported team is more likely to achieve higher performance levels.
- Retention: Empathetic leadership can lead to increased retention, which can be measured through metrics such as turnover rates and employee tenure. Employees who feel valued and understood are more likely to remain with the organization.
By using these metrics, leaders and managers can evaluate the effectiveness of empathetic leadership and make adjustments as needed to create a more positive and productive work environment.
