Employee Engagement, and how keeping a ‘soft corner’ for people creates value

I care a lot about people. That’s not unusual, given that empathy is an essential part of being human. For me, though, my academic background in psychology and social work, along with my role in recruitment and HR, gives me a specific interest in how empathy helps us feel more positive and engaged at work, and how that, in turn, makes us more productive.

The direct business value of engaged employees has been shown in numerous studies, from respected sources such as Deloitte , McKinsey and Boston Consulting Group .? The Harvard Business Review considered empathy in the workplace sufficiently important for them to produce an Empathy Index for major companies. It shows how the top businesses in the index outperformed their peers’ stock market performance by at least 50% over a five-year period.

While employee engagement and empathy at work have always been important for our well-being and business success, they are particularly essential today.

HR policies, and training in areas like diversity and inclusion, can help to build engagement, but most of all it needs everyone, at every level of the organization, to practice and nurture a culture that values employees as people rather than just another resource, and to keep a ‘soft corner’ for the human side of things.

Here, I share my personal perspective on why I believe empathy at work is so important in today’s business environment, and some practical ideas on how everyone, from CEO to admin assistant, can build that essential culture of engagement and inclusion. My perspective is grounded in my studies of psychology and social work, my wide experience in HR and recruitment, and by simply working with teams to get the most out of every eight or nine-hour period we spend in each other’s company. ???????

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Why is empathy so important in today’s workplace?

Empathy in the workplace today is more important than ever, thanks to:

·???????? An increasingly diverse workforce. Working in India, I am privileged to experience a wide diversity of cultural and religious backgrounds among my colleagues and customers. This kind of diversity is becoming more common globally, while wider age and gender demographics further enrich the workplace. Embracing this diversity, taking the time and effort to understand people and build empathy with them regardless of their background, not only makes the team more productive, but it also improves people’s lives.

·???????? Greater diversity and inclusion awareness. It is encouraging to see so many businesses where diversity and inclusion awareness training is an integral part of employee development. For me, applying this training within a wider empathetic approach can greatly enhance its effect, by taking time to understand someone’s religion, culture or gender experience and recognizing it in how the team works day-to-day.

·???????? Focus on employee experience. Employee expectations of their work experience are increasing in many sectors and geographies. For some companies, it has become a key factor in acquiring and retaining employees. Building empathy is one important way to foster a positive employee experience ??????

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Employees are humans, not machines

The foundation of every action and behavior in building empathy is that you are dealing with a human being, a beautiful thing with the same brain and heart as you, not a machine.

In working with others, you may be acting as the voice of the organization, you may be levels above or below them in the hierarchy, and you may even be responsible for deciding if they have a future in the company. Regardless of any of this, they are a person first, and you should treat them accordingly.

People may spend almost half their waking time at work, so it is in everyone’s interest for you to create the most positive environment possible with the people you work with. ???

?How to keep a ‘soft corner’ for people

Building empathy in the workplace is about creating a culture of openness, inclusivity, and respect. Much of this comes from honest engagement as equal human beings. It is important to discuss, brainstorm, understand how people work, and act on their ideas to make the workplace more positive. Actions need to be based on building empathy and mutual understanding more than mechanical adherence to HR policies and training.

This understanding enables you to keep a ‘soft corner’ for people, where the rigors, disciplines and hierarchies of work are put to one side and you engage equally, as one person to another.

For example, I work in New Delhi as part of a diverse team from different religions and cultures. While we often share food in the office, talking with one member of the team taught me there are certain times of the year when her religious practice would make this awkward, so we make sure we remember and respect this.

GI Group and a personal perspective on empathy in the workplace

I am fortunate to work for Gi Group Holding , a company that is committed to engagement and empathy as an inherent part of the group’s core values of passion, responsibility, collaboration, care, sustainability, and continuous learning and innovation.

Therefore, I believe that the most successful organizations recognize how building an engaged workforce also drives higher productivity, increases employee retention, and enhances reputation.

Empathy starts with recognizing everyone as human beings not machines, regardless of where they are in the organization, working every day to build a culture of openness, inclusivity, and respect, and always keeping a ‘soft corner’ for people.

What next?

If you have some thoughts you would like to discuss on employee engagement, please reach out to me at https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/shaimaraquib/ to continue the conversation.

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