3 actionable tips on leading with empathy.

October 7, 2021

We've said it before and you've most likely heard it - empathy is, by far, today's greatest competitive advantage. In the workplace, It's easier said than done.

1. Be vulnerable, first

By default, most people try to compartmentalize their life into work and home. But as most of us telecommute, work and home have become one and the same. So, we can try to hide in the quietest corner to take our calls. Or we can lean into the collective experience.

And one of the easiest ways to do that is to go first! Next time you check in with your team, share how you're really doing before you ask them to do the same.

By going first, you build trust, and you remove obstacles that typically shut down these kinds of conversations.

At the end of the day, we are all human beings. Treat your staff in a way that you would expect them to treat your customers and clients

2. Take the time

Set 15-30 minutes aside every year to connect with every employee at your organization. If you run a small business, this task might be easier to accomplish. But as you scale, make it a part of your culture. If you feel like you're not connecting with someone, set another meeting with them to cultivate that relationship.

At the end of the day, you can't fast-track human connection. It's not just another objective to check off your list. When you set out to infuse empathy into your company culture, don't be discouraged when it doesn't happen overnight.

3. Ask open-ended questions

Rather than asking questions that can easily be answered in one word, pose open-ended questions. This way, your team can feel more comfortable giving detailed answers - even if things aren't all roses.

A way to do this is breaking the ice with "Rose, Bud, Thorn." This is where you ask your team member:

What is going really great? (AKA the rose)
What are you excited about? (AKA the bud)
What challenges are you facing? (AKA the thorn)
By posing questions in this way (and in this order), you help take the sting out of more difficult topics. And you get insight into what isn't working.

If you wait until an exit interview to find out what went wrong, then it'll be too late to fix the problem.

 

---

View More