It is often said that being a leader means leading with your head, not with your heart. Leaders are expected to be tough and ironic. But this thinking is slowly changing. In the new era there will be more empathetic leaders who are the heroes of modern society.
This change makes us reflect and ask ourselves: What does it take to be an empathetic leader? How can we empower teams and employees to be caring leaders?
Sympathy comes from deep within each person and we may not have many opportunities to show it in the work environment. A simple definition of “empathy” is understanding the needs of others and putting their needs above your own.
A results-oriented leader—who is used to making decisions based on reason and facts—can feel isolated on his journey into the unknown land called "feeling sorry".
So what is an empathetic leader?
The answer is, empathic leaders are people who communicate openly. They are willing to talk to others. In the past, many leaders and employees, even though they have worked together for many years, the number of times they talked to each other could only be counted on the fingers. If you want to be an empathetic leader, you must share your thoughts and feelings with your employees.
Ask sincere questions and listen in a way that excites the speaker. In the organization, the leader must always encourage groups and employees to communicate with each other. They must also regularly consult employees, encourage employees to participate in social activities such as blood donation or charity work.
Empathetic leaders are flexible. They are willing to put aside strict rules and procedures for the good of everyone. When we understand and empower our employees, they will never forget, and as a result, we will have more loyal employees. They want to work for us because we care. Promised to keep their word and not to blame unfounded. By doing so, we will show that we truly care about people.
An empathetic leader is one who is not afraid to express his feelings. Of course, it is also reasonable to believe that, if we show our emotions in the work environment, people will think we are weak. That was before, but today, this perception has changed.
Two decades ago, if someone cried happily in front of an employee, they would become a laughing stock. People will say this person has no energy and is hypersensitive. But today's leaders aren't afraid to show their emotions. These people will be seen as profound people and will not lose their true feelings by "loose" rumors.
An empathetic leader is one who leads by example. The actions of a person trying to be sympathetic to win support or to "psychically" others are dishonest and will quickly be discovered. Social reality will test the true meaning of the word "hero". We know that a hero is not someone who is revered for his position, symbol or income, but someone who sets an example for others for his honesty, humility, putting the interests of others before his own. its own benefit.
Is today's harsh working environment the place for empathetic leaders? Sure. It has taken us decades to become more professional, and in the process, we have built a rigid and impenetrable shell around us.
It's time to "return our freedom", to come out of that shell to become more emotional and moral leaders. An empathetic leader brings a sense of balance and freshness to employees. If in the past there were always leaders with hearts of iron, in this new era, empathic leaders will be better crisis solvers, more effective communicators and, of course, will be more respected by employees.
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