Empathy: “People value warmth and care as part of what it means to be a good person, now more than ever.”

This is the 9th article in a series illustrating the impact of Servant Leaders .

Research by the?Center for Creative Leadership?has shown that leaders who demonstrated empathy had better job performance ratings…?These findings were supported by…?Development Dimensions International (DDI)?which showed that “overwhelmingly empathy tops the list as the most critical driver of performance.”?DDI considers empathy and ‘anchor skill’ that is an important factor in a leader’s success. ”

Empathy, empathy, empathy. It seems everywhere you read, it's important for leaders to be empathic. But, what if you lack the desire, or, you just suck at it?

“Empathy has dwindled steadily, especially in the 21st century. The average person in 2009 was less empathic than 75 percent of people in 1979 .”

Jamil Zaki is an associate professor of psychology at Stanford University, head of the Social Neuroscience Laboratory, and author of The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World .

He believes that there are two reasons for empathy. One, it’s is an automatic response. For example, the feeling you get when you see a tightrope walker might lose his or her balance. The other reason involves choice.

Empathy as a Choice that Can be Learned

In “Choosing Empathy: A Conversation with Jamil Zaki,” he stated: “ If you ... view empathy as something that (you) can control, then (you) can choose to align (your) empathy more with (your) values ."

And, "In a Divided World, We Need to Choose Empathy ," Zaki addressed how to develop empathy, citing psychologists who believe you can work your care muscles to connect with others better via meditation, storytelling, and friendship.

If you read Zaki’s works cited, you may reach the same conclusion I did:

Leaders can learn to be more empathic by participating in a cause.?

There are so many causes you might support, e.g., those with medical conditions, the poor… the list is endless.?You just have to find what inspires you. Let's explore a couple examples.

Medical Causes

Catherine Hughes is a Director of Family Support and Community Engagement.?Like every good parent, she is devoted to her child.?Since learning that her son was diagnosed with autism more than 20 years ago, Catherine has been on a quest to learn, understand, and help in every way possible.

As a consequence, she communicates insights via blogs, coaching, and books. One success story includes a woman from Zambia who had no idea where to turn, so she reached out to Catherine on Facebook.?Through her connections, Catherine was able to point her in the right direction.

To date, Catherine has helped more than 20,000 people because of her diligent efforts. She has written or edited multiple books and is an international best-selling author; her latest memoir: Imprisoned No More: A Mother and Son Embrace Autism and Journey to Freedom .

Serving The Poor

Francis Joy is the Youth Director for Soul Winning Youth for Christ Ministries (SWYCM).?SWYCM knows that education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. They bring hope to future generations who will be able to stand on their own.

Francis explained that they must first connect with various tribal groups. He pointed out that in rural India you can't be seen as being bossy. You must understand their suffering and only then are you able to connect by building bridges.

SWYCM helps poor, needy, and orphaned children with school fees in Andhra Pradesh, India. Their purpose: to transform people. Just as when his father started this important work more than 20 years ago, SWYCM does everything in the name of Christ!

“But first seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.”— Mt. 6:33

Find a Cause????????

Catherine and Francis wholeheartedly agree with the research.?Empathy is a critical leadership skill and simply put, the right approach for how they lead.

You might consider supporting autism research, Soul Winning Youth for Christ Ministries (SWYCM) in India, or a cause you'll feel inspired to get behind.?In my case, I got involved with an orphanage in Honduras during one of my Army assignments whom I continue to support to this day, Apufram International .

Demonstrating empathy is an essential trait for servant leaders to respond to Greenleaf’s call and contribute to a better society. The list is endless; find a cause that you can get behind!

In closing,

“People value warmth towards others and care for others as part of what it means to be a good person, now more than ever.”

— Jamil Zaki

Stewardship: It’s how you touch a soul that lasts for eternity.

Until next week …

Join and contribute to our LinkedIN group, Your Evolving Servant Leadership Journey.

Looking for statistics that support the effectiveness of Servant Leadership? See “Employee Engagement: Expectation vs. Reality: ?Is Servant Leadership Right for Your Business”)

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

About the Author

Tom Crea is a servant leadership ambassador, decorated career Army Officer, and Blackhawk Helicopter pilot.?Because of his proven skills, he was hand selected to run the Army’s leadership development program at two Boston colleges, where he and his team transformed college students into combat leaders.?

Today, he is a Keynote Speaker , Leadership Development Coach , and Chief Experience Officer . He is also the author of Unleash Your Values , and podcast host for Your Evolving Leadership Journey .