Shoes are a very personal thing, wearing-in to suit the individual, their shape and style of walking.
To ‘stand in their shoes’ really does mean you see and feel things from their perspective.
Empathy is to understand how another person thinks, to see life and events from their perspective, and to understand how and why they react in the way they do.
Empathy is not sympathy. Showing sympathy for someone is where you take on the emotions of another, coming out ‘in sympathy’ with them by displaying their sadness or grief. Empathy is one step removed – a more objective sense of how they feel. It is your ability to ’tune into’ another person’s feelings, truly understand another person’s emotions, and respond to them in a way which is truly supportive.
The more I see groups interacting, and teams working together, the more convinced I become that empathy is the glue that is essential to hold us together. Understanding how others feel in any given situation, at any given moment, is so important to how we conduct ourselves and our business. I am not advocating unnecessary sensitivity towards any individual or group, but so often it is how we interact that impacts others positively or negatively, rather than what we say or indeed what is decided.
Empathy creates a culture where there is thought given to how engaging we are – how we communicate, how we listen, and how willing we are to share.
Empathy is about ‘all being in this together’ – it is comradeship at its greatest strength, and feeling part of ‘the family’ where no-one would let another down, successes are celebrated and knock-backs are shared…
For a group to be truly effective, a leader should encourage mutual empathy…..
Empathy engenders trust, and a shared trust within any group goes a long way to ensuring everyone commits to the cause, and works hard to achieve success.
Empathy starts with the example a leader sets – actively seeking out the interests and well-being of others, ensuring you are available and not distant, asking after them and sharing their aspirations and concerns.
As a leader your role is to guide everyone towards thoughtfulness – How will decisions land with others, and affect their well-being? Are we being inclusive? Do we care about individuals?
How can we share this information clearly, in simple terms so that everyone feels included and informed…
Gone are the days where a leader can remain distant and apart from those working for them.
Instead they must be integrated and interactive, recognising the interdependence that exists in a high performing organisation.
Being empathetic requires a certain style and approach which puts people first. By doing this you reap the rewards of them putting your business first!
As you invest time in others, they will invest their heart and soul more willingly into what you want to achieve, through them.
