The New Face of NextGen Leaders… It’s Not What You Think

It’s no cakewalk to create the next generation of leaders, especially when the majority of them are the millennials. They stand for strong opinions, new perspectives and come from the ‘flexible’ school of thought. In fact, there are quite a lot of millennials contributing to ProofHub. For me, it’s always amusing to work with them.

That said, I’ve also observed that the current generation of workers is continuously defining and challenging the definition of leadership. It is no longer about titles, dominance, and bureaucracy but more about collaboration, teamwork, and Power of We.

How to spot leadership potential

What comes to your mind when you hear the word leader? Probably someone who is ambitious, intellectual, and dressed in a crisp navy-blue suit. A good leader will possess all these qualities but you missed out on an important trait - empathy.

Those who understand and share the feelings of others turn out to be great leaders. You just have to learn how to spot the raw personality traits that can be groomed into essential leadership qualities.

When you’re confused between two top performers, see how they treat their team members and colleagues. Choose the one that goes the extra mile to understand and lend a helping hand to colleagues.

Why empathy (at a workplace) is the need of the hour

• Dianne Crampton at Gonzaga University found that “Empathy is a universal team value that promotes high commitment and cooperation in the workplace.”
• A culture that fosters empathy in the workplace helps you create an engaged and productive workforce. (Source)
• A study by Development Dimensions International (DDI) found that empathy is the biggest single leadership skill needed for overall success.

Here’s what employees are willing to give up for an empathetic leader:

The Businessolver? State of Workplace Empathy Study, now in its fourth year, annually surveys U.S. employees, HR professionals, and CEOs to evaluate the state of empathy in American workplaces. In their 2017 study, they came out with some interesting numbers.

• A little more than half of the total number of employees feel that organizations aren’t enough empathetic toward their employees
• 60 percent of employees are willing to take slightly less pay if their employer showed empathy
• 77 percent of employees would be willing to work longer hours for an empathetic employer
• 72 percent of millennials would consider leaving their current organization if they displayed less empathy

Empathy Training: The Modern Way to Teach Your Team Empathy

I was amused to find out that many employers have started investing in empathy training programs for employees. A Wall Street Journal article quoted that the number of organizations offering empathy training is up by 20% as compared to the last 10 years.

As per the Global Empathy Index, the most empathetic companies are LinkedIn, Microsoft, Audi, Three, Sony, and Google.

The good news is that...

Just like other things, empathy can also be learned and companies can inculcate it in their culture with some time, effort, and commitment. Effective leadership can introduce empathy among team members by displaying empathetic behavior from the front. It is the best way to demonstrate that you care for your people.

If you are not able to show people that you care, you won't go very far as a leader. Inspire them to become their best and develop a real connection - that’s what being a true leader is.

Also Read:

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Author Bio:

Sandeep Kashyap is the Founder and CEO of ProofHub — a leading project management and collaboration software. He’s one person always on a lookout for innovative ideas about filling the communication gap between groups, teams, and organizations. You’ll find him saying, “Let’s go!” instead of “Go!” many times a day. That’s what makes him write about leadership in a way people are inspired to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more. For more inspirational articles follow him on Linkedin.