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Empathy in the Workplace: Benefits & Examples

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The importance of empathy in the workplace cannot be overstated. An empathic workplace ensures that all employees within an organization are heard, seen, and treated as equals. 

It’s not just about the employees, though—cultivating empathy at work has far-reaching organizational benefits. For example, when everyone has a voice, diverse perspectives and the innovative solutions they create are more likely to shine.

In a past episode of the Team Building Saves the World podcast, we sat down with Christie Turley and Robyn L. Garret to discuss the importance of empathic leadership and how team building can help boost empathy in the workplace.

According to Christie Turley, people are not quitting companies, they’re quitting their bosses.

“Most CEOs think they’re really empathetic—86% of them, in fact. But then when you ask the employees, only 49% actually would agree that the CEO and the leadership are empathetic,” commented Christie.

In this article, we’ll dive deeper into why empathy is important in the workplace. We’ll also share some ideas on how to improve empathy in the workplace and among your company’s leaders. 

What Is Empathic Leadership?

Empathic leadership is based on the ability to understand what others need while being aware of their thoughts and feelings. Strong empathy skills represent one of many vital leadership competencies. Still, empathy is often ignored as a performance indicator.

We’re not just talking about a single leadership style, either. Empathy is an essential element of many people-oriented leadership styles. It allows leaders to influence people and build connections that lead to a deeper understanding of others.

Empathic leadership shares several traits with conscious leadership principles. Being self-aware and creating a culture of “we” rather than “me” is vital to becoming a genuinely empathetic leader.

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Benefits of Empathetic Leadership

Leaders who show empathy often express compassion toward others and strive to create a positive working environment. Employees feel more valued and motivated toward a common goal in an empathic workplace. This can motivate them to be more productive in their efforts to achieve the said goal.

Empathic leadership can also boost productivity. When employees have a clear understanding of what the goal is and know that the team will work together toward achieving it, they work more efficiently. 

In contrast, without that empathy and understanding, you might have an employee who would be too afraid to share an idea that could be the next big thing for your business.

Examples of Empathy in the Workplace

Empathy can sometimes feel like an abstract concept. You want to be more empathetic. You know you appreciate empathy personally. But what does it look like? 

Here are some empathy examples in the workplace to make this concept more tangible: 

    • Active Listening: When a team member expresses ideas, concerns, or questions in a meeting, empathetic leaders practice active listening. They don’t interrupt, they acknowledge the team member’s contributions (even if they disagree), and they respond in a kind and compassionate manner. 
    • Recognizing Burnout: Empathetic leaders recognize the risks and realities of employee burnout, and they take steps to address it. They work with employees who need to recover from burnout and regularly make time for team building activities as proactive burnout prevention measures. 
    • Celebrating Successes: Acknowledging and celebrating successful projects and personal accomplishments allows empathetic leaders to show their team members that they care about each person. 
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This list could keep going for a while, but you get the idea. Other examples of empathy at work include regular check-ins, compassionate feedback, and accommodating different work styles. 

If you’re struggling to think of unique situations, a good rule of thumb is to apply the golden rule: treat others as you want to be treated.

What Happens When You Don’t Have Empathy in the Workplace?

We’ll look at the benefits of empathy in a moment, but first, let’s examine what happens without empathy at work. 

The lack of empathy at the workplace can have a direct impact on your bottom line. Employees who are not motivated and supported by the leadership often lack the will to go the extra mile. 

Team members might also start looking to change jobs and move to a workplace where they feel more valued and appreciated. 

Why Is Empathy in the Workplace Important?

Empathy is just one of the soft skills that can’t be ignored anymore. In our podcast, Robyn explained that it’s important to help people understand that you genuinely care about their well-being

“If you can help those people understand that you really care and you can back it up with your actions, then they’ll start to see you as a more empathic leader.”

Below is a list of some of the most important reasons why workplaces built on empathy thrive.

Empathetic Leaders Produce Better Results

The Center for Creative Leadership examined data from over 6000 managers in 38 countries to determine the influence of empathy on a manager’s performance at work. They found that empathy in the workplace is positively connected to a manager’s job performance. 

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Empathic leaders are also seen as better performers in their work than those who do not practice empathy.

Empathy Improves Cultural Awareness

Encouraging empathy in the workplace leads to stronger cultural awareness. Most workplaces have employees from various age groups, ethnicities, and cultural backgrounds. By creating a space where employees feel safe enough to share their thoughts and ideas freely, leaders can improve cultural awareness and benefit from diversity. This is especially important if your company hires people from around the world. When your leaders invest time to understand other cultures, employees will in turn take those same steps. This ensures better communication and understanding with clients and customers.

Empathic leaders cultivate a culture of collaboration and innovation. Employees are more likely to share new ideas with their employers when they believe that they will be heard and acknowledged for their contributions. At the top of the company structure, leaders may not be aware of issues occurring lower in the organizational hierarchy. Being empathic and inviting honesty helps ensure that employees are comfortable voicing their opinions and new ideas.

If you’re not modeling empathic leadership, your employees won’t either. “If good leadership is not being modeled from the top, if empathy isn’t being modeled from the top, then people don’t know what it looks like. They don’t know. They don’t know how to model it themselves,” commented Christie.

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