The Importance Of Empathy As A Boss

Being empathic, putting yourself in your employees’ shoes is good for business in more ways than one.

For many years, emotions had no place in the workplace. However, in reality – especially during these changing times – it has become a natural part of our working lives. For many businesses, the pandemic has highlighted that their organizations are not just full of workers, but contain teams of people with thoughts, feelings and emotions.

Empathic leaders are able to effectively build and maintain relationships, which is a critical part of leading a company anywhere in the world. Below are seven reasons why it pays to be a more empathic boss.

It makes you a better leader

It shows that you value your employees and what they feel. Being empathetic allows leaders to help struggling employees improve and excel.

Employees want empathetic bosses

It is perhaps no surprise that employees want bosses who exhibit understanding and caring, especially given the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. No one wants to work with a boss who makes their work environment toxic.

The alternative will demotivate your team

What’s the cost of not adopting a more empathic leadership style? Poor work performance. Employees will not go out of their way to do what is required because there is resentment and also because they feel like their grievances are not being heard.

Fosters change and innovation in your business

Happy employees equates to better results. Forging a connection with employees and providing a supportive work environment is more important than ever. Leaders must prioritize empathy to foster innovation, stimulate growth and successfully lead business transformation efforts.

It gives you a different understanding/perspective

Sometimes, it can be really difficult to get a clear read on the emotional state of your team.

Maybe you have transitioned to a new team and have not yet had the opportunity to form the necessary personal bonds. Maybe you have moved to a new organization where team members have learned to hide or filter their true emotions from their supervisors. Maybe the company has just gone through a bad quarter or a round of layoffs, and the workers don’t know if it is wise to be so emotionally open.

Whatever the case, in situations like these, there are still steps that you can take to gain some valuable emotional insight into the mindset of your team.

One way that you can gain this insight is to put yourself in the shoes of your team members. Ask yourself: How would you feel in a similar situation? What would you do? 

In the end

Incorporating empathy and emotional intelligence into your management style is a skill that can be learned just like any other.

While some will do fine following the advice above and experimenting on their own to find a balance that works for them, their team, and their organization, others may find it easier to build their skills by seeking expert advice in the form of a workshop, class, or even a training.