While being empathetic always maintain a professional approach. Do not get too informal and make it an informal discussion While making them comfortable drive the discussion towards the objective of interview Keep the discussion data driven Politely draw their attention towards the purpose of the discussion if found derailing much often

Active Listening: Understand concerns without immediately reacting emotionally. Set Boundaries: Empathize while maintaining professional objectivity. Solution-Oriented: Address issues with a focus on outcomes, not emotions. Clear Communication: Ensure transparency while asserting expectations. Fairness First: Balance empathy with consistent decision-making to uphold authority

Applying supportive yet firm tone of voice, balance skill-based and situational questions with inquiries about their motivations and personal goals should help candidate feel assured to sufficiently express themselves without being too informal nor disrespectful. This shows you care about them as individuals, not just their qualifications but remaining factual yet approachable and objective should create a psychologically safe environment for the candidate.

Striking the right balance between authority and empathy needs one to accept the radical notion that they are not opposing characteristics of a leader. In fact, they are complimentary in nature. An empathetic leader puts himself in the shoes of the other, even it's an interviewee. The conversation then can be done with high emotional intelligence while maintaining the focus on the professional aspects. You can be both a capable and an empathetic leader. They are NOT mutually exclusive.

From my point of view, empathy and authority are not mutually exclusive; in fact, they complement each other when balanced well. Here's how I strike the right balance: (1) Empathy to build trust: actively listen to understanding perspectives, fostering trust and collaboration. (2) Authority to set boundaries: stay firm when needed to uphold standards and accountability. (3) Clear expectations: communicate goals and boundaries upfront to avoid misunderstandings. (4) Decisiveness with compassion: make tough decisions fairly, explaining the rationale while staying resolute. (5) Adaptability: adjust based on the situation, balancing empathy and authority as needed.