Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. It is essential for leaders because it helps them connect with and understand their team members’ perspectives.
Empathetic leaders are better able to build trust and strong relationships with their team, which can lead to increased motivation, productivity, and job satisfaction.
Here are a few ways that leaders can practice empathy:
Listen actively: Listen to your team members with an open mind and without interruption. Try to understand their perspective and give them your full attention when speaking. Look them in the eye and nod your head once in a while to show your approbation.
Show interest in their lives: Show interest in your team members’ lives outside work. This can help you to understand them better and build stronger relationships.
Validate their feelings: Validate your team members’ feelings and acknowledge their challenges. This will help them to feel heard and understood.
Don’t try to fix their feelings: You are there to listen and acknowledge — give them a platform to unload, ask questions to understand, avoid passing quick judgment, and suggest if they might have solutions. Don’t immediately jump to ‘fix.’
Equal participation in a group conversation: Keep your quiet team members from getting lost in the mix of your more vocal associates. Ensure you go around the room and get input from all attendees — even if you have lightly coax a response from a recalcitrant team member.
Put yourself in their shoes: Consider situations from your team members’ perspectives. This will help you to understand their motivations and decisions.
Lead by example: Show empathy in your actions and decisions. This will help to create a positive and empathetic culture within your team.
Encourage open communication: Encourage open and honest communication within your team. This will help to create a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings.
Practice random acts of kindness: This is important — better understand what your people value. It could be a small gift, a congratulatory call at home to thank them for their hard work, taking them out to lunch, or giving them an on-the-spot day off. Your people will remember how you made them feel.
Show empathy and understanding during difficult times: Show compassion and understanding during difficult times, such as dealing with stress or change; this will help to create a positive and supportive environment for the team.
Ultimately, it’s not what you do for them; it’s how you make them feel. Choose one action above and try it this week - you will be surprised how it will impact your team.