What is Empathy and Why Is It Important?
What is Empathy?
Empathy, as defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary, is ” the ability to share someone else's feelings or experiences by imagining what it would be like to be in that person's situation”
Empathy serves as a driving force for people to connect, and form beautiful relationships and experiences. Developing empathy as a life skill contributes to creating a better self, a better community, and a better society. We can choose to use empathy in a transformative and empowering way in our day-to-day life and at work.
Why is empathy important?
When we become genuinely empathetic and practice this skill, it positively impacts ourselves and people around us. Empathy helps to cultivate our capacity for meaningfully connecting with others and improving relationships. Therefore, it promotes openness and kindness. We learn to put ourselves in other people's shoes, trying to “feel with” and to truly understand others' feelings.
According to well-known American psychologist Martin Seligman, when we communicate with empathy, our perspectives of others change. And when we change these perspectives, we also invite change into the relationships we hold. As a result, one can also create healthier communication habits for connection, openness and a new level of mutual understandi
As you practice empathy, you also become a better person. You can further understand the people around you and their needs. Hence, it is a crucial element to a successful relationship. Moreover, according to the “Greater Good Science Center”, "empathy is a building block of morality." So, as we reflect on empathy and how we practice it, we can also reflect on this question: what guides us morally?
Empathy is not only essential for our development as individuals, but it is also a vital element in the workspace. Psychologist, writer and one of the fathers of Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman, as well as other expert researchers in the field have identified empathy as a core component of emotional intelligence and a powerful predictor of success in the workplace.
According to the research, empathy has a role in developing our rapport and trust with others at work and in other facets of life. Moreover, it is also considered a critical skill that leaders and managers should develop and practice to lead a team successfully.
What else does empathy bring? It improves interactions and allows employees to achieve more effective communication and positive outcomes, because they feel heard and they feel connected.
The “Indeed Editorial Team” states that “practicing empathy will enable you to better adapt your communication style to the person you are interacting with and adjust your tone of voice or body language to fit the conversation best.”
In addition, as empathy plays a crucial role in creating meaningful relationships, it also helps you become a better team member and collaborator. It also has a strong impact in enhancing customer service. How so? According to research, empathy enables us to anticipate customers' needs and wants, responding to them, and giving value to others. Hence, it improves customer service skills and experience.
While empathy becomes an essential life skill, it also serves as one of the critical competencias that companies look for when hiring managers and leaders. More and more, empathy is viewed as one of the most critical skills for success. Thus, a vital leadership competency.
Empathy in the Workplace
The “Center for Creative Leadership” defines empathetic leadership as having the ability to understand the needs of others and being aware of their feelings and thoughts; applying it all in your role as a leader. Even though this is an essential skill in leaders, it has also been overlooked as a performance indicator. Based on one study conducted, it was found that empathy in the workplace positively relates to one's job performance. The findings show that managers who practiced empathetic leadership toward direct reports were viewed by their bosses as better performers. The finding was also consistent with the result that the managers rated as empathetic by their subordinates were also rated as high performers by their bosses. Empathy serves as a vital skill, personally and professionally- and more and more research support this.
Empathetic Leadership
As empathy is considered more and more to be vital in leadership competency, an empathetic leader should have the ability to understand the needs of others and be aware of their feelings and thoughts. According to studies, successful leaders must be more “person-focused,” being able to work well with people across different countries, cultures, departments, teams and backgrounds.
According to research, managers who practiced empathetic leadership display better performance. Being empathetic is a key part of leadership effectiveness and emotional intelligence. It improves human interaction leading to more effective communication and positive outcomes overall.
Empathetic leadership has the power to improve leaders’ effectiveness and increase their chances of job success and a purposeful job. Thus, empathetic leaders become an asset to organizations because they contribute to building and establishing relationships effectively and retaining talents. Being aware of other people's feelings and thoughts, understanding their needs, and being sensitive has the power to make us better individuals and contribute to creating a better environment.
How to show Empathetic Leadership?
The theory may be easy to understand, but what are some practical ways one can apply it, develop it and increase empathy in the workplace?
Watch signs of burnout in your workmates and in yourself too
Work burnout is common and it is a real problem in the workplace causing intense stress and pressure. With empathetic leadership, however, we can recognize signs of overwork before burnout becomes an issue. Give a few extra minutes each week to check in with the team members to see how they’re handling their workload and to help them recover from overwork. Moreover, remember to be vulnerable too and share how you are feeling, and handling/balancing your work. Self-care is also the way forward so you lead by example.
Show sincere interest in the needs, hopes and dreams of other people
As an empathetic leader, we should try to understand the needs and goals of each team member and see how to best match them with work assignments to contribute to both performance and employee satisfaction. When team members see that they are being recognized, they become more engaged and willing to go the extra mile. Showing kindness and appreciation can boost performance in the workplace and overall wellbeing.
Demonstrate willingness to help employees with their personal problems if needed
Empathetic leaders understand that team members are dynamic individuals who may also be having personal problems as they maintain their professional responsibilities. It is part of their roles to support and lead team members who are needing it most by keeping an open line of communication and encouraging transparency. This fosters psychological safety among the team. Of course, managers and leaders need to know boundaries as well, and when need be, look for additional support from Human Resources, coaches, and other professionals. Having said that, knowing there is an open communication and mutual care will enhance the empathetic leadership skills in anyone at work.
How to encourage empathetic leadership in the workplace?
Talk more about empathy
Let each member know that empathy matters. Research shows that understanding, caring, and developing team members is important in today's workforce. It fosters empathy, enhancing performance and work effectiveness.
Practice and teach listening skills
We must work on being good listeners, skilled in active listening techniques, to let other members know that they’re being heard. With this, everyone should feel more respected and trusted. Each and everyone should listen to hear the real meaning behind what others are saying by paying attention not only to the words they hear, but also to the feelings and values being shown through their tone, pace of speech, facial expressions, and gestures.
Encourage genuine perspective-taking
Each member should consistently put themselves in the other person’s place. This includes considering the personal lived experiences or perspectives of the employees.
Cultivate Compassion
Support managers who care about how others feel and consider the effects of business decisions on employees. Allow time for compassionate reflection and response.
If you liked this article and learned some new insights on empathy, please follow FELIZ Consulting on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook- and do reach out to learn more about our training workshops on Emotional Intelligence, Inclusive leadership, The Empathetic Leader and beyond.
Written by Shemaiah Marzan and Mônica Z. Hall
Sources:
1) “The psychology of emotional and cognitive empathy.” https://lesley.edu/article/the-psychology-of-emotional-and-cognitive-empathy
2) Cheverie, S & Gollnick S. (2018). “Developing empathy will make you a better leader.” https://er.educause.edu/blogs/2018/3/developing-empathy-will-make-you-a-better-leader#:~:text=Daniel%20Goleman%20and%20other%20researchers,in%20other%20aspects%20of%20life.
3) Hmaidan F.A. (2020). “Why is this the time we need empathy the most.” https://blog.aiesec.org/why-this-is-the-time-we-need-empathy-the-most/
4) Indeed, Editorial Team. (2019). “Why empathy in the workplace is important.” https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/empathy-in-the-workplace
5) Center for Creative Leadership. “The importance of empathy in the workplace.” https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/empathy-in-the-workplace-a-tool-for-effective-leadership/#:~:text=Empathetic%20leadership%20means%20having%20the,overlooked%20as%20a%20performance%20indicator.