AS A MANAGER OR BUSINESS LEADER, HOW ARE YOU TAKING CARE OF YOUR EMPLOYEES? ARE YOU A CARING MANAGER? DO YOUR TEAM MEMBERS FEEL YOU HAVE THEIR BEST INTERESTS IN MIND?
After serving within many levels of management and working with some of America’s finestleaders, one thing that has become very clear is the importance of empathy to effective leadership. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. Please don’t confuse empathy with sympathy as these are two completely different topics.
In the business world, empathy is an important trait for managers to possess because it allows them to care for their team members and, in the end, produce better results. Here are three reasons why empathy is important in management.
by Nate Pigza
Elevate Digital
VP of Recruiting
1. EMPATHY ALLOWS MANAGERS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR EMPLOYEES.
When a manager can empathize with their employees, they are able to see things from the employee’s perspective and understand what they are going through. This understanding can be helpful when it comes to managing expectations, setting goals, and giving feedback. Additionally, empathy can help managers build trust with their employees which is essential for a healthy working relationship.
2. EMPATHY FOSTERS A POSITIVE WORK ENVIRONMENT.
An empathetic manager creates a work environment that is based on mutual respect and understanding. Employees feel comfortable coming to their manager with problems or concerns knowing that they will be heard and supported. This open communication fosters a positive work environment where employees feel valued and motivated to do their best work.
3. EMPATHY LEADS TO BETTER DECISION MAKING.
When making decisions, managers need to consider how those decisions will impact their employees. An empathetic manager can put themselves in their employee’s shoes and make decisions that consider the needs of the individual as well as the needs of the business. This type of thoughtful decision-making leads to better outcomes for both the manager and the employee.
Obviously, this is only one trait of a good manager and must be coupled with many other important skills. Building trust, creating positive work environments, and making better decisions are just a few of the positive benefits of empathetic management style. When managers take the time to empathize with their employees, everyone benefits!