What does it mean to lead with Empathy?

Have you ever heard the saying, “People don’t leave a job, they leave a boss”?

Empathy is one of the core pillars in which effective leadership is built upon. As an expert in organizational behavior (OB) and having a long track recorded of leading and coaching management teams, I want to provide you with strategies to help you survive the 2020/2021 school year.

Whether you are

·       A school administrator leading a physical or remote building of teachers and staff

·       A teacher leading an in-person or remote classroom of students

leaders must be equipped with specific skills to be effective in today’s learning environment!

What does it mean to lead with empathy?

1. The learning environment has completely changed and teachers are working harder than ever! As a leader do you have a system in place where staff (those you are responsible for) can share their worries, fear and frustrations? Being empathetic means that you provide a space and an opportunity for your people to admit loss. Your staff needs their worries and stresses to be acknowledged.

2. When a colleague or subordinate admits loss to you, do you know how to respond? (Does your staff feel stuck/resentful? Is your team fearful and overwhelmed?)

3. Are your responses compassionate? Are your responses building and establishing the trust you need for that relationship? (Did I say relationship? Yes, successful academic achievement is dependent on the community you build, the connections you foster and the culture you invent.)

4. We are seeing school administrators and educators using the same teaching and learning strategies they have always used, strategies designed for in-person instruction. (That doesn’t make sense.)

5. Covid, death, trauma, hunger, fear, civil unrest, gun violence, fear of financial insecurity, isolation and disappointment. The atmosphere in which we are living, working and learning is FUNDAMENTALLY different and we must help educational leaders ADAPT strategies that will make empathy the foundation of their interactions.

I invite you to learn about the importance of your leadership practices and responses and how they can either positively or negatively affect the motivation and achievement of your staff, students, and families. For more information: [email protected]