LEADERSHIP STYLE: Empathic Leadership
5 ways to becoming a more empathic leader
Empathy for your team is more important now than ever before.
The past few years have been unprecedented in ways that no one alive has seen before. People are leaving the workforce due to the struggle with work/life balance and it is clear that traditional leadership practices are no longer effective.
It’s time for you to step up and deliver for your teams. You need to understand what your employees are going through both at home and work. You need to create a culture of high trust where they feel safe to tell you what they need to do their jobs well, whether it’s home office equipment, extended deadlines, or flexible working hours.
To create this kind of environment, you need to master empathy, the ability to fully understand another person’s point of view, even if you don’t agree with it. Empathy doesn’t come naturally to everyone, but it’s a skill that can be learned. I didn’t learn to truly embrace and make use of it until my late thirties, but it has changed the way I lead for the better.
Don’t think empathy is some intangible, unattainable trait. You can learn it, just like I did. It’s time to incorporate empathy into your leadership style and create a positive work environment where everyone can thrive.
So, here are a few tips on how you can incorporate empathy into your leadership style:
1. Be open to new perspectives. Don’t assume you know everything — be open to hearing different points of view from your team members.
2. Listen actively. Give your team members your full attention, put away distractions, and repeat back what you’ve heard to ensure understanding.
3. Show that you care. Remember details about your team members as people, ask about their lives outside of work, and offer help and support when needed.
4. Put yourself in their shoes. Try to see things from your team members’ perspective, understand their feelings and needs, and come up with a solution that works for everyone.
5. Communicate effectively. Be clear about your thoughts and feelings, set expectations, and give constructive feedback in a timely manner.
BOTTOM LINE:
In my opinion, empathy is the key to becoming a great leader. By being kind and empathetic towards your team, you can create a positive and productive work environment for everyone. So, lead with empathy and I promise you, you will see a positive impact on your team!
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