That doesn ’ t mean leaders should accommodate every request or cater to every whim , however . “ Hand-in-hand with empathy goes fairness and balance ,” says Rhys Cater , digital leader and MD of award-winning digital marketing agency Precis Digital . “ As leaders , we need to balance the needs of tens , hundreds , or even thousands of people along with the success of the business .”
Empathetic leadership requires understanding of people To successfully embed empathy requires leaders to build a culture that is at once strong , but also flexible enough to accommodate a wide range of working styles and personalities , explains Cater . It also requires leaders to understand the people that they work with , and how people ’ s individual working styles , personal circumstances , and unique background and skills might impact their approach to work .
For example , some people may need help in getting their point across if they aren ’ t the most naturally assertive , while others might have times when they can ’ t contribute to their full capacity due to health or personal circumstances .
“ Employing empathy in decisionmaking and people management enables companies to get the best from people by matching their skills and personal working styles to the best teams and projects . It unlocks a better understanding of collaboration styles , and the underlying motivations that allow people to deliver to their full potential .
“ It also means recognising that not every person can operate at 100 % all of the time , and that priorities need to be adapted .”
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