Why Empathy is Important in Leadership
We have all heard the expression, “Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes.” Over the past year, we’ve had to do just that. The ability to understand and share each other’s feelings has been vital for us to function as a society. So why is it important to transition those same abilities to our workplaces?
In a previous blog post, I talked about emotional IQ and the significance of understanding our own emotions. It’s just as crucial that we recognize and show compassion for the emotions of those around us. Here are a few reasons I’ve found that expressing empathy makes a better Christian leader.
Gaining Awareness
James 1:19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak.”
Everyone’s situation is different, so we can’t just use a cookie-cutter method when it comes to dealing with our employees. Taking the time to listen leads us to have a better grasp on what is going on not only at work but at home too. This gives us a chance to be more aware of the needs of the people we work with, create a better environment for them daily, and support them in the way most suitable for their situation, which will help build trust.
Building Relationships
1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
When working from home began, it became more difficult to keep connected with our co-workers and team members. People we previously saw every day at the office, we were now only seeing through a screen. A study done by hbr.org showed that virtual teammates are 2.5 times more likely to perceive mistrust, incompetence, broken commitments, and bad decision making with distant colleagues.
The pandemic has been hard on our work relationships, so putting in the extra effort to build those connections is more important now than ever. Relationships at their root are built on connecting with someone on an emotional level, and the only way we can do that is by really putting in the time and effort to truly understand them.
Creating A Better Work Culture
1 Corinthians 12:26, “If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”
The Bible refers to Christians as one body with many members. In the same way, our companies are one team with many members. Empathy allows workers to feel a sense of open communication in which they are understood and unafraid to share and show vulnerability with the group. The more you show your own vulnerability and openness to others, the more they will trust you and open up to you. This allows for more effective feedback and space for them to share their problems and receive help on how to resolve them.
As leaders, our goal is to help our companies succeed. Understanding what drives our employees and positioning them with the goals as a company is just one way we help build a better work environment. But before we can do that, we have to understand our employees. The time and effort spent accomplishing this is well worth it in the end. So, strap on those shoes and get to walking!