The Connection Between Empathy And Effective Leadership, By Tosin Adekoya

Depending on where you look, the world seems more divided than ever before. In many ways, society’s love of individualism has isolated us. Combined with the hyper-tailored tech algorithms, this has created more siloed conversations and polarizing viewpoints. With such a system to navigate, it’s no surprise that empathy for your fellow man isn’t often prioritized.

But the truth is that a mass turn to empathy is necessary at this juncture. Nothing will come of dehumanizing others. Now more than ever, we must harness the power of human connection to guide meaningful change, and those in leadership positions can lead the way with their actions.

I’d like to share my views on the power of empathy in leadership. As workplaces become even more diverse and inclusive, empathy has emerged as a critical skill for leaders seeking to foster collaboration, innovation, and trust.

Let’s explore this concept and a few ways you can be a more empathetic and effective leader.

Recognize that you set the tone. To maintain good working relationships with others, you must be willing to understand their experiences and perspectives. As we all know, everyone sees the world through a different lens. Even if you don’t fully align with others’ worldviews, as a leader, you must create an environment where individuals feel heard and respected.

Your actions can open the door to more harmonious and collaborative teams. An empathic leader will often be seen doing the following:

• Leaving all personal biases at the door.
• Showing up with compassion, even when professional pressures are at play.
• Giving ample opportunities for direct communication and actively listening to what others have to contribute.
• Responding thoughtfully in a way that is productive for all parties.

Still unsure if you’re creating an understanding environment for your team? Ask them! This can be the first step in fostering honest, open discussions geared towards supporting and understanding one another better.

Operate with perspective and cultivate inclusive practices. In a way, empathy is being able to see through the eyes of others. Many of the unspoken rules of the corporate world are based on the experience of white males in the workforce.

Considering the countless other demographics in the modern workforce, most of these nuances or patterns are outdated, exclusionary, counterproductive, and even harmful to some people. Can you identify any unspoken rules you enforce or adhere to within your career?

Sometimes, they are hard to spot right away. In my research as a DEI professional, I’ve encountered many unspoken cultural rules that don’t consider the perspective of diverse groups.

Here are three examples, although many others could be identified:

• Meetings are sometimes conducted on the golf course.
• “All of us” vacation on Nantucket.
• There is a lack of consideration for international holidays.

By trying to understand the nuances of diverse groups, leaders can eliminate problematic trends like this and tailor their leadership styles to be more inclusive.

Encourage others to ask questions. The absence of curiosity or push-back helps maintain the status quo, which keeps us stuck. To make real change, you must allow everyone to provide insight into what needs improvement in the first place. If someone has an idea about how things could be done better or differently, encourage them to use their voice and talk to others about their ideas.

This kind of collaborative approach fosters more employee engagement, innovation, and stronger teams. While it may result in some uncomfortable conversations, my experience shows me that those are the discussions we need to have the most often. Meaningful and lasting change can only happen if those with vision are empowered to use their voices.

Empathetic leaders create more harmonious workplaces and inspire their teams to perform better. Creating an atmosphere of acceptance and understanding sets the stage for healthier dynamics. In questioning the status quo, you root out any counterproductive trends in company culture that need addressing.

Amplifying diverse voices promotes innovation and paves the way for a more welcoming workplace for all.