Empathy is huge when it comes to leadership.
Intuitively, we know this. But can we put some numbers around it?
It appears so. A new study by Catalyst Inc. points to a compelling lift with empathetic leaders, convincing stats in terms of team Engagement and - yes - even Innovation.
So how do we lead with empathy?
The key is balancing cognitive/emotional empathy, which is passive, with action. In the context of e.g. your company’s quarterly targets, express concerns and inquire about challenges directly, and listen to your team members’ responses. Then offer help and empower them to find solutions they didn’t know they had.
Empathy isn’t everything. But without it, everything becomes more difficult.
See more in this article by Tracy Brower: Empathy is the most important leadership skill.