Empathetic leaders show empathy, understanding, and support for their employees. They prioritize knowing each person by name, which helps create an environment where people feel like they can be themselves at work. One study found that compared with non-empathic managers, there was increased job satisfaction and lower stress levels among workers in environments led by people who understand their employees.
Leading an organization is about understanding people as much as you know the systems. This requires a leader who can connect professionally and personally with their team. Few leaders manage this nowadays due to focusing too heavily on results instead of leading through cooperation. Leaders need to remember that people are not just resources and they’re also human beings with needs and hopes. You must value your team members more than any project. Choosing to see them as humans will help improve relationships within the organization. You can start by learning what motivates them individually rather than guessing why one person does something, particularly when there may be another who could achieve similar results without much effort or difficulty.
When you make it your goal to value people for who they are, not what they can do for you, that will show in your actions. Express the value each of these individuals brings, ask how their kids are doing, and show interest in every answer given. Your team members are your greatest assets. You must think about what they need or want the most to be able to provide it, and then do everything possible for them while also adding value with every interaction. When someone feels cared for by their workplace environment, they will show up more regularly than those who don’t, which makes all the difference when building trust over time.
Empathetic leaders are more successful at achieving their goals than those who don’t show empathy. They’re also happier and better adjusted overall. The journey toward your destination is not always a straight line. You need to take the time and invest in building relationships, leading you down an authentic path of success with lasting rewards.
You can be a better leader by becoming more persuasive and confident in communicating with others. Our training can help transform your communication skills so that everyone feels inspired to follow you. Visit our website to learn more about our 1-to-1 training:
