Leadership is a complex and nuanced endeavor that requires a variety of skills and qualities. Over the years, one particular area of focus has consistently been identified as a crucial element of effective leadership: empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand or share feelings, and it is essential for creating meaningful and lasting relationships with both employees and customers. But the question remains – are empathetic leaders born or made? In this blog post, we will explore the concept of empathetic leadership and discuss the merits of both viewpoints. We will delve into the benefits of having an empathetic leader and consider how leaders can cultivate empathy within their own organizations. Furthermore, we will explore the common challenges of empathetic leadership and how to address them. In the end, it’s our goal to offer insight into the value of this important leadership trait and provide guidance on how to become an empathetic leader.
Are Empathetic Leaders Born or Made?
What is empathetic leadership?
Imagine that Suzanne, a sales manager, wants to recognize Joe, one of her salespeople, for being the top seller this month. She therefore decides to honor Joe by treating the entire sales team to drinks. The sales team enjoys themselves, but Joe spends the entire time at the bar drinking water and checking his phone. Why? Because Joe is a devout family man who abstains from drinking. This was clearly the wrong way to honor him. Suzanne notices this and feels terrible about it.
A few months later, Joe experiences another month of record-breaking sales, and Suzanne wants to recognize his accomplishments. But this time, she invites his wife and children to an ice cream party at the workplace. Joe is thrilled.
What can we take away from this story? At first glance, Suzanne doesn’t seem like an empathic leader. Before making a choice that would have an impact on Joe, she didn’t take the time to get to know him. However, in reality this was an understandable mistake. Because not everyone wants to share such information with their coworkers, leaders frequently are unaware of specifics regarding the private lives of their team members. What matters is that Suzanne observed that Joe wasn’t having a good time at the cocktail party, discovered why, and then applied what she had learned to subsequent circumstances. Suzanne fits the description of an empathic leader in that regard.
The ability to lead while being mindful of others’ thoughts, feelings, circumstances, experiences, and needs is known as empathic leadership. It’s the capacity to experience and feel another person’s story as though it were our own. The story that is playing in our heads and the story that is playing in other people’s heads frequently diverge.
Understanding another person’s perspective does not imply that you concur with it. But it does show that you are open to understanding and appreciating it.
Fundamentally, leadership is about inspiring followers to work toward a common objective. Empathy is at the heart of it. Empathy is regarded as one of the most critical traits in a leader for the following five reasons:
Are empathetic leaders born or made?
Similar to the debate over whether or not leadership abilities can be learned International researchers have looked into this issue. Two groups from the Academic Fellows Program engaged in a famous debate at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2016 about which side had the most favorable evidence. The two teams came to the conclusion that some combination of nature and nurture was probably involved in the solution.
A 2018 study found genetics do play a role in empathy, however only to a small degree. Only 10% of the variance in emotional levels can be explained by biology alone. Consequently, the remaining 90% can be learned.
The same study found that when parents and other adults serve as role models, empathy is frequently learned at a young age. As a result, leaders who were raised by compassionate adults have an advantage over those who did not. It is, however, never too late to develop into a more sympathetic leader.
What Does Science Say About It?
Researchers across the globe have tried answering this question. Like many others, they are curious about whether leadership is something that people are born with or develop over time with the help of a mentor or coach. Two groups from the Academic Fellows Program engaged in a famous debate at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy in 2016 about which side had the most favorable evidence.
These teams compared leadership qualities using data from various twin studies. The findings were not as conclusive as they likely hoped. Twins who had exhibited impressive leadership qualities were used as examples by the side that insisted leaders are born, not made, including astronauts Mark and Scott Kelly. The argument in favor of “leadership is learned” provided examples of leadership values and characteristics that cannot be inherited, like a desire to help others, integrity, and a sense of the future. The two teams came to the conclusion that some combination of nature and nurture was probably involved in the solution.
The Effects of Stress
People are under a lot of stress, and evidence points to the pandemic and how it has affected our lives and our work as contributing factors. This is why empathy is so important.
FAQ
What is empathetic leadership?
Being an empathic leader entails being able to comprehend others’ needs as well as their feelings and thoughts. Unfortunately, as a performance indicator, it has long been a soft skill that is disregarded.
How do you become an emphatic leader?
- Truly listen. …
- Don’t interrupt. …
- Be fully present. …
- Leave judgment behind. …
- Watch body language. …
- Encourage the quiet ones. …
- Take a personal interest. …
- Empathy is a mental and emotional muscle that gets stronger with use, so start from within.
Why should a leader be empathetic?
Being able to demonstrate empathy creates trust within your team. Trust creates an empowering, honest relationship with your colleagues. Collaboration and productivity will consequently increase, but most importantly, your team will feel respected and cared for.
Who are some empathetic leaders?
…
3 CEOs Using Empathy to Unlock Innovation
- Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella. …
- Warby Parker CEO, Neil Blumenthal. …
- KIND Founder and CEO, Daniel Lubetzky.
