Leading with empathy
“Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgement, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of ‘You’re not alone’.“
These words by Brené Brown are a brilliant description of what empathy is all about. It is a vital leadership competency and, as a leader, having the ability to understand the needs of others and be aware of their feelings and thoughts is fundamental to employee engagement and developing people-centric cultures.
Empathy has of course always been a critical skill for leaders; however, it has taken on a whole new level of meaning and priority in recent years. Leading with empathy plays a big part in cultivating positive relationships and organizational cultures as well as driving and delivering results.
So, What Is Empathy?
Empathy is about understanding things from someone else’s perspective and imagining ourselves in their position.
Practicing empathy helps us to connect and relate well with other people in our lives. By being an empathetic leader, we can better ‘read’ another person’s inner state and interpret it without blaming, giving advice or attempting to fix the situation.
Like any other behavioral skill, empathy can be cultivated through intentional effort and practice.
10 Ways to Lead with Empathy
1. Expand Your World View
Our world view is a framework of beliefs, values and attitudes which affects everything we perceive, think, feel and do.
As we evolve, we can become restricted by the boundaries of what we experience, so constantly expanding our world view will help us to be more empathetic.
Expanding our horizons by embracing new experiences will also help us to develop as well-rounded, balanced and inclusive leaders.
2. Put Yourself in Others’ Shoes
To practice empathy there is a very useful skill that can help called ‘perspective taking’.
This is about consciously putting ourselves in someone else’s shoes and imagining what challenges they might be facing and how it could be making them think, feel and behave.
This mindset shift helps to ensure that we stay in an empathic state. By attempting to imagine what it would be like to experience what our team member is going through will help us to gain a better understanding of what is happening from their point of view.
3. Challenge Assumptions
We all hold unconscious beliefs and bias, and this could well be about various social and identity groups.
This bias is triggered by the brain making quick judgments and assessments of people and situations. Often this is influenced by our own background, societal stereotypes and personal experience.
To be truly empathetic we need to constantly be aware of and challenge our biases about people and stereotyping.
We may well discover that many of the assumptions we make are based on erroneous information. Educating ourselves and listening to the groups that are affected by this misinformation is an excellent place to start.
4. Be Curious
Being curious enables us to seek out challenges and new experiences so that we can broaden our horizons.
Curiosity is the gateway to wisdom and life is never dull for a curious person with a growth mindset.
Being curious rather than judgmental about people is a great place to start and finding each member of the team interesting can be the catalyst for some great conversations.
5. Be Fully Present
Being fully present requires us to make a conscious decision to give each member of the team our undivided attention.
So being aware of any potential distractions is important, as well as setting aside our own internal mind chatter so that we can focus on what the other person is saying.
6. Listen Actively
Listening is one of the most powerful and constructive ways that we can demonstrate empathy.
When we practice active listening, we are listening with intention and with a deep desire to really hear what the other person is saying.
Empathetic leaders take the time to listen and understand each member of their team’s priorities and motivations.
7. Respect Silence
How comfortable are you with a pause in a conversation and a moment of silence?
To be helpful sometimes we may feel the urge to fill the void and jump in to finish people’s sentences, offer them some advice or even interrupt.
Silence and allowing time for meaningful pauses in a conversation can be a very powerful way to simply ‘be’ with another person and allow them the time and space to collect their thoughts.
8. Acknowledge Emotions
When we acknowledge something, it means we are recognizing its value and importance.
Emotional validation involves understanding and showing acceptance of how another person may be thinking and feeling.
This helps the person we are empathizing with to know that their feelings are being seen, heard and accepted.
Emotional acknowledgment can help us to establish rapport and interpersonal trust. It can also help others to define how the team member may be feeling and encourage them to open up more.
By allowing emotions to flow freely it can also help people to release pent-up stress and ultimately feel calmer.
9. Tune into Non-Verbal Communication
Communication runs far deeper than words alone and during a conversation we may observe the team member dodging eye contact, tensing up or shifting about awkwardly.
These are important non-verbal signs, and we can then use our powers of empathy by gently asking the other person to describe what is happening for them.
This will encourage the team members to share their feelings openly, knowing that they won’t be judged or criticized.
10. Question Empathetically and Use Empathetic Language
Empathetic questioning is asking questions with the intention of seeking to understand how someone is feeling.
This helps the other person to express what is really going on and gently probing questions so that it doesn’t end up feeling like an interrogation can also help the person you are leading to understand their own situation better.
The language we use and the tone we adopt is a major step toward cultivating an empathic attitude.
Being tactful and diplomatic is very important and this is the subtle and skillful art of handling a delicate interaction with sensitivity and emotional intelligence.
In Summary
By being empathetic and understanding we can support the people we lead to feel psychologically safe enough to share openly and honestly.
This will also help each member of the team to feel that they are not entirely isolated and enable them to recover and grow stronger in the knowledge that they have the full support of an empathetic leader.
FAQ
At CoachHub, we believe in the power of aligning individual growth with organisational objectives. Our dedicated coaches work closely with coachees to ensure that their growth plans are directly linked to your company's overarching goals. This includes addressing specific leadership development needs within different departments or teams, and recognising that each area may have unique challenges and requirements.
To achieve this alignment, we collaborate closely with our clients and their senior leaders, taking the time to understand their organisation's specific challenges, objectives, and organisational culture well. By gaining deep insights into your company's dynamics, we can tailor coaching plans that address the specific needs of different teams and individuals.
Our approach is highly customised and adaptable. We recognise that each coachee has unique requirements, and we leverage our expertise to develop coaching plans that are relevant and effective for all participants, regardless of their role or level within the organisation. Whether it's helping to develop leaders, retain talent, improve leadership skills of middle management, or support C-suite executives, our coaching programs are designed to cater to diverse needs and ensure maximum impact.
By aligning growth plans with your company's objectives, we create a cohesive approach that enhances overall organisational success. Our coaches help coachees identify areas for improvement, set meaningful goals, and develop actionable strategies to bridge the gap between their current competencies and the desired leadership abilities. This alignment not only facilitates personal and professional growth but also contributes to the long-term success of your organisation.
With CoachHub, you can be confident that our coaching programs are tailored to address the specific leadership development efforts within your organisation. By collaborating closely with our clients, we ensure that our coaching plans are relevant, effective, and aligned with your company's objectives, driving growth and excellence across all departments and levels.
At CoachHub, we understand the importance of scalability when it comes to your leadership development program. That's why our programs are thoughtfully designed to accommodate a large number of participants simultaneously, ensuring that organisations of all sizes can benefit from our services. Whether you have a small team or a global workforce, our coaching platform is equipped to handle the scale.
With our advanced digital coaching platform, we bring high-quality coaching directly to employees all over the world. The beauty of our online sessions is that participants can access them from anywhere, at any time. This flexibility empowers employees to engage in coaching without geographical constraints or time zone limitations. Whether they're working from home, travelling for business, or stationed in a different country, our platform ensures that they can easily connect with their coach and participate in sessions at their convenience.
The digital nature of our coaching platform also means that participants can enjoy a consistent and seamless coaching experience, regardless of their location. Through video calls, instant messaging, and other interactive tools, our platform fosters a sense of connection and engagement between the coaches and participants. This virtual environment not only saves time and resources but also allows for regular and ongoing coaching support without the need for in-person meetings.
By leveraging the power of technology, our scalable coaching programs break down barriers and provide accessible coaching solutions to organisations and individuals around the globe. Whether it's a small team or a multinational corporation, our platform ensures that every participant can benefit from high-quality coaching, anytime and anywhere.
Absolutely! CoachHub's leadership development program is designed to seamlessly integrate with your existing talent development and performance management initiatives. We understand that every company has its own unique needs and goals, and that's why our coaching sessions are completely tailored to meet those requirements. Whether you're looking to strengthen leadership skills, foster personal growth, or achieve organisational success, our program aligns perfectly with your company's specific objectives.
By customising our coaching sessions, we ensure that each individual receives the guidance and support they need to thrive. We take the time to understand their strengths, challenges, and aspirations, and then craft a coaching experience that caters to their personal growth journey. This way, we can provide targeted development opportunities that directly contribute to their success within your organisation.
When you integrate our program with your leadership development efforts and performance management initiatives, you create a powerful synergy. Our tailored approach complements and reinforces your existing efforts, allowing you to build a comprehensive framework for maximising the potential of your workforce. Together, we can create an environment where employees are motivated, empowered, and equipped with the skills they need to excel.
So, rest assured that with CoachHub's leadership development program, you can easily integrate coaching into your existing initiatives and achieve remarkable results that align with your company's requirements.
.png)
