This week we continue our series on leadership presence – focusing on reaching out with empathy in leadership. Last week we looked at the first aspect of leadership presence and arguably its foundation, being present.
For this next installment, we will discuss the next step on the path to attaining leadership presence: reaching out with empathy. According to Belle Linda Halpern and Kathy Lubar, authors of “Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate and Inspire”, reaching out means “the ability to build relationships with others through empathy, listening, and authentic connection” (77).
This may sound easy or obvious, but in fact, it is not. A true leader is someone who reaches out first, and does not wait for opportunities to cross them by. In addition, it is one thing to reach out to others, to seek out opportunities, but if one does so without empathy and compassion, the effect will be lacklustre. Both of these characteristics complement each other and work together to foster leadership.
The Importance of Empathy in Leadership
Empathy lies at the heart of effective leadership, setting it apart from mere authority. In opposition to sympathy, which involves feeling for someone, empathy demands a deeper connection — feeling with someone. It necessitates an internal journey, one that requires leaders to delve into their own emotions and inner selves. Empathetic leadership means understanding and sharing the feelings of others, creating a compassionate and supportive environment and building stronger, more genuine relationships with team members.
Regrettably, many leaders adopt the habit of compartmentalizing their emotions, leaving them at home when they step into the organizational realm. However, this approach severely hampers their ability to demonstrate empathy toward their team members. An important leadership skill, empathy enables leaders to connect authentically with their teams, fostering trust and creating a supportive work environment where employees feel valued and understood.
Through our observations in client interactions, we’ve noticed a striking divergence in perceptions across different respondent categories. While friends and family often rate their leaders highly in terms of empathy, colleagues, direct reports and superiors frequently provide lower ratings. This variance underscores the role empathy plays in leadership effectiveness and highlights the importance of empathy as a leadership skill.
Leaders who lead with empathy create an inclusive work environment that fosters emotional intelligence and compassion. They cultivate a culture where team members feel valued and understood, leading to improved productivity and organizational success. Conversely, less empathetic leaders often struggle to build trust and rapport, resulting in lower employee satisfaction, higher turnover rates and diminished overall performance.
Learning to Reach Out and Be an Empathetic Leader
There is a saying: “People want to be loved, heard, and made to feel important.” This statement is true in every aspect of life, and especially in business. A true leader will make their colleagues feel heard, and their actions and ideas are integral to any business situation. This includes, for example, active listening, as opposed to passive listening, and sensitivity in dealing with potentially awkward situations (such as someone’s terrible idea for a proposal to a potential client). Halpern and Lubar state: “When you know and acknowledge your people and their feelings, they feel more motivated, work more productively, and they’re more likely to stay, even if the going gets tough” (89). If you can learn to reach out and be empathetic with your employees, they will be loyal to you and will work harder for you.
If empathy and the ability to reach out don’t exactly come naturally to you, there are certain actions you can take to encourage this behavior in yourself.
Figure Out What Makes People Tick
Being empathetic does not mean having warm and fuzzy feelings of happiness for the entire population; it simply means understanding someone’s thoughts and feelings. To do this adequately, it is important to get to know the person and find out what makes them tick, so that you may better understand them in any situation.
Empathy is at the heart of building genuine connections with others. It allows you to truly understand their perspectives and emotions. As a leader, developing empathy is essential; it forms the basis of effective leadership. By embracing empathy, you can build trust and create strong relationships with your team. It also improves decision-making and conflict resolution by encouraging leaders to recognize and address the feelings and concerns of their team members. Therefore, fostering empathy in your leadership style is key to achieving success and becoming a more influential leader.
Creating the Link to Your Own Feelings when Showing Empathy
In opposition to sympathy, empathy involves feeling with someone, as opposed to for someone. Therefore, empathy requires you to connect with your own feelings and inner self. Many leaders have the “bad habit” of leaving all their feelings at home before coming to the office. If you do this, your ability to empathize will be gravely affected. We often see this be the case for some in our 360 with clients. Categories of respondents differ in their opinions of the subject. Friends and family will rate their empathy high while colleagues, direct reports and bosses rate it low.
You Possess the Capacity to Empathize with Anyone
Naturally, it is easier to empathize with people we like. Empathizing and connecting with others that you may not like or respect can be a challenge, but it is certainly not impossible. Halpern and Lubar suggest thinking about the person with whom you cannot connect and trying to find at least one thing (however, the more, the better) that you admire about that person and connecting with them surrounding that. The authors state: “In the end, though, empathy doesn’t involve finding what you like in someone else. It involves finding the humanity in someone else, even in their weakness, and connecting that humanity to your own” (98).
A study of over 38,000 leaders and their organizations (conducted by Hay/McBer), found that “leadership styles that rely heavily on empathy tended to create a more positive company climate {…}” (99), and as we can imagine, a more positive company climate will lead to positive company results. Empathetic leadership leads to fostering trust and stronger relationships within teams. Leaders who prioritize empathy leadership traits can effectively navigate decision-making and conflict resolution by considering the feelings and needs of others. Therefore, cultivating empathy within leadership practices is paramount for nurturing a positive organizational climate and achieving favorable outcomes.
Lead with Empathy and Compassion
This week, challenge yourself to connect with others, especially those whom you may know you’ll have trouble connecting with. See what a difference empathy can make on your path to developing your leadership presence.
Organizations can encourage empathetic leadership by recognizing the importance of empathy in leadership development. Empathy in the workplace fosters empathy and compassion among team members, leading to increased job satisfaction and reduced turnover. Empathetic leaders understand the diverse perspectives of their team members and guide them through transitions, creating a positive work environment where everyone feels heard and valued. By enhancing their empathy skills, leaders can effectively communicate with their teams and make business decisions that benefit both employees and the organization as a whole. Developing empathy in leadership is crucial for fostering these positive outcomes.
In conclusion, empathetic leadership is a critical skill that fosters a positive workplace culture and improves business outcomes. Leaders must recognize empathy as an essential leadership trait, creating a safe space where team members feel heard and valued without fear of judgment. Effective communication and strong listening skills are key for empathetic leaders to connect deeply with their teams and understand their personal lives.
Enrol in our leadership presence online training workshop to develop empathy in leadership today.
Works Cited
Halpern, Belle Linda and Kathy Lubar. Leadership Presence: Dramatic Techniques to Reach Out, Motivate and Inspire. New York: Gotham Books, 2003. Print.
