Cultivating Empathy in the Workplace

Empathy is an inherent human response. It is the ability to understand the needs of others and being aware of their feelings and thoughts. Empathy is an important leadership skill which is often overlooked. It is imperative for leaders to be able to understand the feelings, thoughts, needs, and wants of the people they are responsible for not only managing but developing. Being empathetic at the workplace leads to effective communication and more positive outcomes.

The importance of empathy in the workplace is undeniable, but how to actually go about cultivating it in the workplace? Though it is easier to teach hard skills than soft skills, there are still ways that can help your workforce at large to be empathetic.

Be an active listener: The only way to understand the perspective of other people is to ask about it and genuinely hear it. It is all about understanding from the perspective of others. Doing this helps you understand what is going in their worlds. The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is the foundation on which empathy is built. An open channel of communication is important at the workplace, so when something comes up, colleagues feel free to share with you.

Be honest, accessible, and approachable: The key to open communication is to be honest with your team. Be upfront when you make mistakes, owe them and work to fix them. Be as approachable and accessible as possible to your team. Even if you are working remotely, have a good system in place to be in touch with your colleagues.

Help colleagues recover from overwork: Work burnout is a real problem these days. People are putting in more work hours than ever before and finding it difficult to create a work-life balance. Managers who are skilled at empathetic leadership recognise the signs of overwork in their subordinates before burnout becomes an issue. It is important to fine few extra minutes from your work and have a one-to-one communication with your team members and help them deal with stress and recover from overwork.

Cultivate compassion: Managers should care about how others feel and consider the effects that business decisions have on employees, customers, and communities. Learning to go beyond the standard-issue values statement and allowing time for compassionate reflection and response is crucial to cultivate empathy at the workplace.

Handling conflicts at the workplace: Whenever there is a conflict at the workplace, come at it with an empathetic approach. Try to understand what is really going on with your colleagues as an employee and as a human. Leaders must handle workplace conflicts with empathy and by understanding the perspective of others. Instead of preferring our assumptions & beliefs we should rather try and understand others point of view. Above all, business leaders must be kind and be the binding force that binds the team together.