“ Empathy is a leadership practice , not just a solitary act or a feeling as it is often perceived . It ’ s grounded in attentive listening and building deep-trust relationships and requires asking really good questions , listening closely to understand people ’ s point of view , and demonstrating through your behaviour that you value relationships ”
PURPOSE | LEADERSHIP
Then the pandemic crashed into our lives , creating a situation where employees needed support from leadership in new ways as they adapted to working from home . “ Many leaders were unequipped to provide this enhanced level of support and management ,” asserts Volpe , and as a result , “ employees weren ’ t feeling supported , weakening their connection to the company .”
It ' s one of the causes of the Great Resignation , and why empathetic leadership has become a business imperative rather than a nice-to-have as organisations look to attract and retain talent .
For nearly half ( 44 %) of the Informed Public , being in a workplace with more empathy and human connection is more important to them now than it was prepandemic . And it ’ s even more important for younger employees ( 52 %) and parents ( 49 %).
What is empathetic leadership , and how does it work in practice ? Empathy is defined as the ability to understand and share how someone else feels , to take the point of view of others into consideration so that they feel seen and heard .
“ In business , it means seeing your team and colleagues as whole people , understanding their point of view , and using that data point in your decisionmaking , communication , collaboration , problem-solving and other relevant skills ,” explains Volpe .
It all starts with “ perspective taking ”, adds Fields Tyler , and recognising that others ’ perspectives are often different and always valuable . “ Good business leaders are practiced in empathy because it helps us make better decisions when we can see things from various points of view .”
“ Empathy is a leadership practice , not just a solitary act or a feeling as it is often perceived . It ’ s grounded in attentive listening and building deep-trust relationships and requires asking really good questions , listening closely to understand people ’ s point of view , and demonstrating through your behaviour that you value relationships ”
Cheryl Fields Tyler Founder and CEO of Blue Beyond Consulting 54 November 2022