Empathy: A Skill Every Leader Should Have
When we consider leadership skills, you might think of confidence, strategic risk taking or even problem solving however, what about the soft skill of empathy?
What is empathy?
Empathy is understanding the feelings and emotions of other people.
Research shows….
96% of employees surveyed believe it is important for leaders to be empathetic - 2018 State of Workplace Study
But how do you develop empathy and create a better team environment?
Build Relationships
It all begins when they start at the company or organization.
What are you doing to initially engage with your team members outside of a feedback session or annual reporting periods? Once the “newbie” status has been removed, how are you MAINTAINING that professional relationship? Good working relationships build trust, make the workspace more enjoyable which improves productivity, creativity and innovation. If engaging in conversation:
Practice Active Listening
Do you have a open door policy?
It’s important to listen to understand even if you cannot relate to your team member’s perspective or experiences. This skill makes stakeholders feel heard, accepted and understood. Many times in that conversation, you might want to respond but in these moments, ignore that need to focus in on that conversation to take in what is being said to process the information. Acknowledge what they said, repeat it if necessary, to ensure you understood what they were trying to convey. When you do respond, focus on the facts versus allowing your emotions to speak. If conflict arises, continue to solely focus on responding professionally and the follow up plan might require an additional party becoming apart of the conversation. Consult Human Resources, if necessary.
create a follow up/action plan
Ask how you can support within the limits of of professionalism and create a plan. This might require asking, “what do you recommend?” or requesting a follow up email with recommendations or even additional meetings. Other personnel might become apart of the resolution process due to the nature of the matter. For example, if it related to a diversity issue, it might require an audit from another agency or department. It might then require a leadership meeting to discuss the findings and addressing areas that require attention. Following up adds to the relationship and trust building process so ALWAYS FOLLOW UP.
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“Most people think that empathy is something you have only with friends and the family, but in reality, it is also a priority in business”
