Empathetic leadership – dispelling misconceptions
“ Understanding and practicing the principles of empathetic leadership enables organisations to generate better innovation , improve productivity , foster a sense of belonging , and improve sales effectiveness . Pretty much any business success story has empathy at its core ”
PURPOSE | LEADERSHIP
Empathetic leadership – dispelling misconceptions
Rob Volpe , empathy activist and
CEO of Ignite 360 , believes many people are afraid of empathy because they simply don ' t understand it . One misconception is that there is only one kind of empathy . “ The reality is that there are multiple different forms , notably emotional and cognitive empathy , and it is cognitive empathy that we need to practice in the workplace and much of our daily life ,” he says .
Another misconception is that a leader will be seen as weak for practicing empathy . “ There is an empathy crisis in society ,” he states . “ Nearly one-third of American adults report being unable to easily see the point of view of others . We see it play out in both our work and personal lives . Fortunately , we are all born with the ability to have empathy , but we have to have the courage to choose to practice it .”
And for those people who are highly sensitive or empaths , which is a real gift , says Rob , the challenge is to modulate their connection and not let the emotion overcome their cognitive decision-making skills . “ The best decisions are made with a combination of head and heart .”
“ Understanding and practicing the principles of empathetic leadership enables organisations to generate better innovation , improve productivity , foster a sense of belonging , and improve sales effectiveness . Pretty much any business success story has empathy at its core ”
Rob Volpe Empathy activist , CEO of Ignite 360
56 November 2022