Empathy: Unlocking the Power of Understanding

The other week, while scrolling through social media content, I stumbled upon a video about empathy, and it got me thinking. Can something so simple to implement in our day-to-day lives, whether personal or professional, have such a profound impact? Can it motivate, connect, and align people so that it can be considered the foundation for an organization's success, keeping in mind that empathy is both emotional and cognitive?

Looking back at my 20-plus years in Information Technology, has empathy played a part?

Evolution of Empathy

Not long ago, productivity outweighed employee well-being; delivering was prioritized over work-life balance, and most employees would say that being open with their employers about personal elements of their lives was not the norm. You were expected to come to work, perform, and keep your personal life confidential. This shift to leading with empathy and taking the time to recognize the human element has made a significant difference. I am sure that you can find several articles confirming this radical shift.

It has opened the doorway to talk about and be more proactive with embracing diversity, understanding, and getting to know one another and our diverse backgrounds is fundamental. Knowing and understanding the diversity in our cultures is so important. Having been born and raised in India, I can attest that cultural aspects impact the working ecosystem. I remember when I lived in Dubai and Belgium, social etiquette and work culture were quite different, and adapting to the new working methods took some adjusting.

Leading with Empathy

If you were to think back to when you felt empowered, connected, and had a sense of loyalty and trust with your boss, colleagues, and even your team members, what made you think that way? The work, team dynamic, or was there a small part of empathy seeping in from all these individuals that made you feel a sense of trust and loyalty, perhaps even a sense of belonging? What makes us connect in a way that leads to fruitful relationships that thrive and prosper in our professional and personal lives?

Over the course of my career, I have learned that many leadership qualities, like encouraging open dialogue, building trust, and nurturing positive team dynamics, are all reflections of this fundamental quality. What does empathy do? The receiver of an empathetic gesture feels valued. If you as a leader take the time to get to know your employees and even customers, it breaks down barriers and creates a deeper connection, whether you realize it or not, that seamlessly transitions into loyalty, which transcends into people feeling valued, it engages and motivates and creates a sense of belonging. All these contribute to more engagement and better working conditions, and you would go the extra mile for someone you feel that empathetic connection with. The reasons might vary, but it has been proven that in an environment where empathy is vital, so is motivation.

Be an Attentive Listener

While on a layover in San Francisco earlier this year, I stumbled upon an article written by a kindergarten teacher. One sentence had the most profound effect on me. She often told her students, “Listening only works if your mouth is closed and your ears are open.” I can admit that it made me realize that I had to work on this professionally and personally. Do I listen without interrupting? Can I listen without commenting on discussions I'm afraid I have to disagree with? Can I keep an open mind and see it through a different lens? It sounds simple, but it's not. The great news is that the more conscious you are of the empathetic parameters, the more it will become engrained in your DNA.