Foster understanding through empathy, yet guide with kindness.
In today's world, the role of leadership teams is more crucial than ever, as they strive to sustain organizations and continue creating value. Amidst the ongoing challenges, a recent article published in the MIT Sloan Management Review (MITSMR) highlights the importance of kindness in leadership.
Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings or perspectives of others, plays a significant role in effective leadership. An empathetic leader listens carefully, seeks to understand the emotional states and motivations of employees, and makes decisions informed by this understanding. However, empathy can sometimes distort judgement and lead to bias. Yet, it is essential for making connections and taking action to reduce suffering.
On the other hand, compassion in leadership goes a step further by not only understanding others’ feelings but also showing genuine concern for their well-being and taking proactive steps to support and alleviate their suffering or challenges. Compassion involves kindness and appropriate supportive actions as a response to empathy. In essence, empathy is the awareness and understanding of another’s emotions, while compassion is the emotional response that motivates helping behavior.
Empathy builds mutual trust and insight, whereas compassion drives supportive action to improve others' circumstances. Both are people-focused and improve workplace culture, communication, and morale. However, compassion explicitly includes care and aid, while empathy centers on deep understanding and connection without requiring identical feelings or experiences.
The top leadership team has been counselling and supporting the mental well-being of employees for the past 18 months. This compassionate approach has been particularly important during the epidemic, when employees have faced continuous stress and isolation. For instance, those who stay away from family due to work convenience have to strain to stay focused while being isolated from family and normal life.
Parents, too, have struggled to balance home requirements with office assignments during this time. Leaders should help people grow and empower them to solve their problems. Taking a step away, asking what is required, practicing self-care, coaching the person, and the power of non-action are ways to lead with compassion.
The cost of being compassionate can lead to emotional drain, and leaders need to find ways of becoming resilient and in tune with others. A third article published in Deloitte discusses the perseverance of resilient leadership.
The article also emphasizes the importance of understanding the difference between empathy and compassion. The leaders have been taking on a big emotional burden during the epidemic, but it is essential to recognize that compassion involves intentional action to alleviate suffering.
The leadership team also needs to prepare a training and development program focused on offering multi-disciplinary development to high-potential employees. This program will help these individuals grow into future leaders who can navigate the complexities of the modern workplace with empathy and compassion.
In conclusion, leading with empathy and compassion is crucial for creating a supportive and understanding workplace culture. By understanding the differences between these two concepts and practicing them in their leadership, teams can build trust, improve communication, and foster a positive work environment.
- The leadership team's focus on mental health and wellness of employees, coupled with their compassionate approach, has been instrumental in supporting employees during the epidemic, particularly during times of continuous stress and isolation.
- To maintain resilience and effectively lead with compassion, the leadership team should prioritize self-care and consider the insights provided in the Deloitte article on the perseverance of resilient leadership.
- As future leaders, high-potential employees can benefit from a training and development program that emphasizes empathy, compassion, and multi-disciplinary growth, enabling them to navigate the complexities of the modern workplace with sensitivity and proactive support.
