Leading with Empathy Creates Better Organizations

Jakob Franzen, MCC

?When organizations ask me to coach their executives on leading with empathy, I’m often asked to define empathy and what it means to be a compassionate leader. Empathetic and compassionate leadership is a management style that prioritizes understanding and responding to the needs and feelings of employees. It’s the prioritization part of that definition that we tend to focus on. Most executives want to create a positive workplace culture where employees feel valued and supported, but they want to feel confident in understanding how this will result in benefits for both the employees and the organization. They want to understand the value proposition of being a compassionate leader.

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One of the main benefits to any organization of having empathetic and compassionate leaders is increased employee engagement and loyalty. When employees feel that their leaders genuinely care about their well-being, they are more likely to be invested in their work and committed to the organization's mission. This, in turn, can lead to reduced turnover rates, increased productivity, and higher job satisfaction.

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Empathetic and compassionate leaders also tend to be better communicators, which can lead to more effective teamwork and collaboration. They can listen actively to their employees, understand their concerns and needs, and communicate with them in a way that fosters trust and respect. This can result in more open and productive communication between team members, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making.

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Moreover, compassionate leaders can create a culture of support and kindness, where employees feel comfortable expressing their ideas, making mistakes, and learning from them. Many of us have come to know this as psychological safety. This kind of workplace environment can foster creativity, innovation, and risk-taking, which can lead to competitive advantages for the organization. And what organization doesn’t want to be competitive?

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Finally, empathetic and compassionate leadership can positively impact the overall image and reputation of the organization. When leaders treat their employees with respect and kindness, it can improve the organization's public perception and attract new talent. Employees who are treated well are more likely to speak positively about their workplace and post positively on social media, which can help attract customers and partners.

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When organizations ask me to coach members of their executive teams, I like to point out that they will benefit greatly from having their executives grow into empathetic and compassionate leaders. These leaders can create an unparalleled work environment, and that will positively affect everything the organization does – including the bottom line.

5 Quick Tips for Increasing Empathy

1.?Use active listening when talking with employees.

2. Shift your perspective to the person talking to you. See life from their point of view.

3. Use open-ended questions so that the person talking to you can better explore their thoughts and feelings.

4. Practice mindfulness so that you can connect on a deeper level.

5. Ask for feedback. You may find blind spots you didn't know existed.

Quote for the Month

"Empathy has no script. There is no right way or wrong way to do it. It’s simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone.’"

- Brené Brown

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