Are you an empathetic leader?

You may feel that empathy isn’t the most important skill a manager needs, however, showing empathy as a leader can help to develop collaboration and trust with your employees.  Following on form this, levels of performance can increase and a culture which is pleasant to work in can be created. An empathetic leader will understand the needs of others (rather than just themself!) which, in turn, can improve motivation and productivity.

Is empathy in leadership underrated?

Empathy can be an underrated soft skill.  Some managers may think empathy is all about being soft on team-members but it is simply taking time to understand where the other person is coming from.  Think about an employee who has made a mistake and losing confidence because of it.  The leader may have been in a similar situation during their career, in fact there can be very few workers who haven’t.  That experience can help give empathy and can help the employee to move on and use that experience going forward.

The benefits of empathy in working with a diverse workforce

Taking time to understand a worker who is from a different culture or background can help a team to become more cohesive. Input from a diverse range of people can only be a positive thing, creating new ideas and efficiencies within an organisation.

A vital leadership competency

It may not be something a person managing staff has thought important before. Helping a leader to become less judgemental can be a start.  Imagine a new starter – they are probably being heavily judged when they first join an organisation.  Empathy from their manager can help them relax into a new role – helping them to know that they have the support to find their way. Having a better sense of self-awareness can help a leader to become a supportive manager and to gain a respect, improve co-operation within a team and create a culture of collaboration.

Improving employee relations

Improving interactions between a manager and their team can have positive outcomes. Sometimes leaders feel their role is all about direction and guidance with minimal emphasis on the people in the team.  Becoming a more empathetic leader is a fairly new concept (although some leaders have it naturally of course!) but when used in the right way it can unlock potential within a team, improving efficiency and employee satisfaction.

Better communication

Empathy from a leader can help communication within a team. Practicing empathy involves actively listening without judgement, spotting non-verbal signals from another person and asking questions in order to understand. The leader can improve the regulation of their own thoughts and emotions through regular coaching.

Enhances relationships and performance

As well as enhancing relationships, empathy can help with conflicts within a team.  The ability to diffuse tensions cannot be underestimated in the workplace. Understanding each person’s point of view is an incredibly useful skill for a leader.  Motivation is another by-product of empathy in a leader.  If the team feel heard, valued and respected then they are more likely to be motivated and therefore more productive.