How can you motivate your team with empathy?

Empathy in leadership starts with active listening. It’s about truly understanding your team’s perspectives, which in turn, informs better support and guidance. Such engagement is crucial for nurturing a motivated, high-performing team.

Good leaders define reality and provide hope. Empathetic leadership looks like asking good questions to start to understand the people I lead. If I have some insight and can help them understand their current state, then I can help them dream about a path to breakthrough. When I have to provide hard feedback or coaching, I always want the other person to walk away believing 2 things: Bri understands me. Bri wants my best, and believes I can get there.

The art of active listening is a skill far removed from pushing one's agenda. It's about genuinely immersing oneself in the team's perspectives, seeking insights that a leader might have missed. Active listening involves listening for growth opportunities, for moments to express gratitude, and for instances that instill pride and amazement. It's about looking for ideas, fostering a sense of unity and togetherness. This is how leaders connect deeply with their team, acknowledging and valuing their contributions. By actively listening, leaders not only gather diverse perspectives but also create an environment where team members feel truly heard and valued, driving motivation and creating a collaborative and supportive workplace culture.

Según mi experiencia aplicando el liderazgo altruista, creo que es importante que los líderes seamos auténticos y transparentes con nuestros equipos. Esto significa ser honestos sobre nuestros propios sentimientos, experiencias y desafíos. Cuando los líderes somos auténticos, creamos un ambiente de confianza y apertura que fomenta la empatía y la colaboración. También creo que es importante que los líderes nos mostremos vulnerables. Esto significa mostrar lasemociones y ser abiertos a las críticas y el feedback. Cuando dejamos salir nuestra vulnerabilidad, se crea un ambiente de seguridad y aceptación que permite a los miembros del equipo ser ellos mismos.

As the saying goes, you have two ears and one mouth so that you listen twice as much as you speak. I, admittedly, am very much a talker. So I personally have had to find ways to practice active listening with team members. I will put my hand over my mouth just so I don't speak too early. Then I seek understanding by saying "what I hear you saying is...". It is so important for team members to feel they are heard. Being authentic in your approach is also really important. Servant leadership skills are key.

Motivating a team with empathy often hinges on the power of expressing genuine appreciation. I've seen firsthand how acknowledging team members' efforts and achievements can significantly uplift their morale and engagement. I practice offering specific praise during team meetings, not just for successful outcomes but for the effort and resilience shown in challenging situations. This frequent and heartfelt recognition approach fosters a positive work atmosphere and encourages the team to continue putting forth their best effort. It goes beyond mere words; it shows that I value their contributions and understand the hard work they put in. Regularly expressing appreciation has cultivated a motivated, committed team that feels valued.

Each month in my team, we capture "Shout Outs". These are submitted by team members in an online survey form (Microsoft Forms for us). Once a month, we gather and read all the nominations then all nominees are placed on a virtual prize wheel. The winner from the spin is awarded a values badge and money (redeemable in a gift card of their choosing). This has been a tremendous tool in promoting positivity and peer recognition in the team as well as increasing visibility by the leadership team of progress team members are making.

This language is backwards. I do not make you mad or happy, only you do that. I only have control only over myself, not you. So expressing appreciation does not build morale or confidence for anyone. So what does appreciation do? It deepens trust. Trust is the foundation of relationships. When you appreciate you express that something is valuable to you. Consiser a child. When you give them a hug, a smile or words of praise...they experience a feeling. What is it: happy. Why? They feel a new level of trust. Expressing appreciation says you care, value them and are committed. It offers new trust. Appreciate often and they see how committed you actually are to them and they begin to trust that their happiness will continue to build.

Le soutien est primordial dans une équipe selon moi. C'est grace à ce soutien que les personnes vont donner le meilleur d'elles-mêmes et s'épanouir. Parce que nous ne sommes pas parfaits mais que nous essayons de progresser. Un manager peut insuffler une belle dynamique d'équipe en valorisant les réussites et en étant un soutien dans les difficultés rencontrées.

Ensure recognition is not just a generic pat on the back but a specific appreciation of unique contributions. For instance, instead of merely acknowledging a successful project completion, commend a team member's creativity in problem-solving that led to an exceptional outcome. This targeted recognition not only boosts morale but also showcases that individual efforts are valued.

Adapt your leadership style by acknowledging the diverse strengths and preferences of team members. For example, offer flexible work arrangements tailored to each individual's needs, whether it's accommodating remote work or adjusting schedules. By recognizing and adapting to diverse working styles, you foster an environment where everyone feels heard and respected.

I am an advocate for all people leaders to become familiar with the Hersey-Blanchard Situational Leadership model. Many novice leaders take an assessment or two that identifies their default style of leading people and the label as a limitation. Great leaders push themselves to understand their people and adapt to their individual needs. Having a proven framework that provides insights into when and how to do that can be the catalyst that leads to much greater leadership effectiveness.

This maybe one of the most challenging skills for leaders. You want to adapt your leadership style to meet an employee where they are and give them what they need to succeed. Yet, you want to stay true to who YOU are. There maybe times when you do not relate to the needs of the employee because of your inherent differences. For example, they maybe very logic-driven almost to the point of disregarding human emotions while you believe that emotions play an important part in the decision-making, because people do business with people. It is natural for people with opposing or contradicting views to judge the perspective of the other. Staying curious helps. And also giving grace to yourself. You will not be perfect but you can keep trying. ??

Exercising empathetic leadership to nurture team cohesion through the adaptive adjustment of your leadership approach is top tier! The ability to tailor communication, behavior, and expectations to resonate with the individual preferences and aspirations of team members not only fosters a constructive work atmosphere but also actively encourages inclusivity within the organization. This adaptive approach promotes a culture of understanding, appreciation, and empowerment, ultimately contributing to enhanced team dynamics and productivity.

Promote an inclusive decision-making process by creating a forum where all voices are heard and valued. During brainstorming sessions or team discussions, encourage quieter team members to share their thoughts by explicitly seeking their input. This inclusive approach not only fosters trust but also results in more innovative solutions by harnessing diverse perspectives.

Involving your team in the decision-making process for things that might affect them is a way to show empathy as leaders. One time at work, I was thinking of ways to improve the overall quality of the project I was leading. I asked everyone in the team to share their valuable input. This not only helped me identify different areas of improvement, but also resulted in a collaborative environment that proved beneficial in the future.

Busca el bien del otro, genuinamente. El otro no es una "propiedad" tuya. Cuidándole te cuidas a ti mismo, su crecimiento es tu crecimiento. Y sí, celebra con autenticidad: una palabra, un comentario, una oportunidad de tener visibilidad... ?hay tantos momentos que aprovechar!

Support individual growth by offering personalized resources and guidance. Encourage team members to set personal development goals and facilitate access to relevant learning materials or mentorship opportunities. For instance, organizing monthly skill-sharing sessions where team members can teach and learn from each other creates an environment conducive to continuous growth.

Una vez escuché una peque?a chuleta que recomiendo de cuando en cuando. Si escuchas algo que no te encaja sigue los siguientes pasos: Primero. Di algo así como: "te entiendo", es irrelevante si entiendes o no. De esta forma te pararás y podrás captar al otro. Segundo. Da el racional, por ejemplo: "si no has dormido en toda la noche es normal estar denso". Es importante que no caigas en compararte contigo mismo, huye del "yo he dormido menos y aquí estoy". Tercero. Muéstrate vulnerable. "a mi me podría pasar lo mismo" Después de estos tres pasos a construir, ayudarle a moverse de donde está. ?Espero que te sirva! "y a la vez te necesito a tope con este tema"

Donner l'exemple de l'empathie, c'est d'abord être honnête avec soi-même, accepter ses propres limites et c'est ok. Ensuite, c'est avoir le "courage" de communiquer dessus parce que nous avons tous encore des choses à apprendre les uns des autres.

Embrace authentic empathy by leading with vulnerability and openness. Share personal experiences where empathy made a significant impact on a project's success or a team member's growth. This not only humanizes leadership but also sets the tone for a workplace where genuine connections drive success.

Si vous voulez que vos équipes se sentent proches de vous, essayez la vulnérabilité ! Je vois trop souvent des managers qui tentent de tout prendre sur leurs épaules pour protéger leurs équipes. Résultat : les équipes se sentent soit négligées, soit laissées dans l'ignorance, soit pas respectées suffisamment pour qu'on leur dise la vérité. Oser leur dire ce qui ne va pas, comment vous allez, ce qui pèse sur vos épaules. Et vous verrez leur état d'esprit changer, et peut-être même qu'ils trouveront des solutions pour vous aider dans votre lourde tache !

to inspire, motivate, and ignite people in your team and in every environment where you take on leadership, don't show them your superpowers. show them theirs.

If you want your team to show more empathy, leaders should set an example and embrace empathy. Your team looks up to their leaders as role models. Therefore, it is important for leaders to demonstrate empathy to foster a collaborative environment.

Saber y sentir desde los pies del otro es la empatía, utilizarlo para motivar un acierto. Todo lo anterior es clave, escuchar, agradecer, adaptarse al estilo, involucrar, apoyar y ser ejemplo. Lo compro y a la vez quiero se?alar que lo diferencial va un paso más lejos. El siguiente nivel de la empatía es el amor, palabra poco utilizada todavía en el nivel corporativo. Si amas al otro harás por conocerle, interesarte por sus puntos de vista, agradecerle sus contribuciones, tenerle en cuenta y apoyarle. Ama, ama, ama... y todo surgirá más fácilmente. De lo contrario, uno puede encontrarse aplicando una técnica yerma. Con mucho amor, MJ.

Lead by example: Demonstrate empathy in your own actions and behaviors. Be a role model for your team by showing understanding, patience, and compassion. This sets the tone for a positive and empathetic work culture.

We should be aware that motivation is internal and intrinsic. We can provide external inspiration. We can identify motivations, factors, and mindsets. Pay close attention here will help us better serve those in our care and charge.