Empathic Leadership

The style of empathic leadership is based on the understanding that it is impossible to connect with or to motivate followers if you cannot envision life from their perspective. This realisation has led to empathy becoming a highly sought-after leadership quality. Furthermore, empathy is now mentioned in recruitment descriptions and business schools are teaching students about its benefits. Although empathic leadership appears to be a recent style, when we take a closer look at some of the most iconic leaders of the last century, like J.F.K., they were reported to be emotionally intelligent and in particular: empathic.

Evidence

Studies have also shown that empathic leaders create higher profits and this has been confirmed across national and cultural boundaries. Those led by an empathic leader are more committed and passionate about their work, and report high job satisfaction. As a consequence, retention rates are higher and recruiting talent is easier.

Relationships

The empathic leader enjoys closer relationships in the workplace and is a popular and respected leader and this ultimately elicits more power. With more understanding of others’ perspectives, they are better placed to address their team’s and customer’s needs, and to recognise the talent and potential at their disposal. Despite this, empathy remains undertrained and under-developed within 21st century organisations. Moreover, this deficit is reported to be especially true in western society.

Lack of Empathy

A lack of empathy is often expressed through behaviours and attitudes like bullying and disengagement. A toxic climate evolves, often described as a climate of fear. Empathic leaders are likely to be more engaged with their role within an organisation due to the deeper satisfaction the style brings. Their efforts and empathy are contagious and spread through an organisation and in doing so improve the safety of the climate. In a safe space people are more ready to volunteer ideas and opinions, which makes them feel valued and the leader feel less alone. Safe environments also have the ability to heal; and to maintain wellbeing; which means fewer sick days.

Advantages

It is widely thought that the advantages of empathic leadership may be greater where the demands are higher, and there is a positive correlation between hard demands and so-called soft skills. The ‘faster’ the workplace the greater the need for empathy! Few domains offer tougher and faster moving challenges than the military. Interestingly, empathy’s role in leadership is being valued here too, as John McDougall, a West Point graduate and veteran of conflicts in both Iraq and Afghanistan, explains:

John McDougall, Chaplain (Maj.) John McDougall, U.S. Army

You can read more about of John McDougall’s perspective in the November-December 2019 Military Review, available here McDougall-Empathetic-Leadership

Peter Sear, Founder, The Empathic Minds Organisation