Empathy in the Workplace

People who lack empathy, as I once did, share the belief that they can get a ton accomplished when they don’t concern themselves with “people issues.” They think that lacking empathy just might provide the buoyancy to results rather than the barrier. But the tragedy is that sometimes we need to take a subjective view. We need to humanize the people in front of us. We need to step into situations and ask: “What would I want to happen if it were me?” “What does this person need most right now?”

Teach active listening: Train employees to listen attentively, without judgment or interruption, when others share their feelings and concerns. Active listening helps build trust, rapport, and understanding among team members, which in turn fosters empathy and strong working relationships.

Promote empathy-building exercises: Encourage employees to put themselves in another person's shoes and consider their perspective, needs, and feelings. Role-playing activities, case studies, and group discussions can be effective ways to build empathy. By fostering a culture of empathy, employees are more likely to support and understand each other, leading to a healthier work environment.

Creating a culture of empathy in today's fast-paced and competitive work environment can be difficult. Empathy, on the other hand, is a necessary component of a positive and productive working culture. Bodhisattva ideals can play an important role in creating empathy and constructive connections among coworkers.

A bodhisattva is someone who seeks enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. In other terms, a bodhisattva is someone who is dedicated to serving others and assisting them in achieving their objectives. The bodhisattva ideal relies on compassion, selflessness, and empathy. These ideas can be implemented in the workplace to foster an environment of empathy.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

The Benefits of Empathy in the Workplace

1. Enhanced Communication and Collaboration: Empathy fosters open communication and encourages individuals to express their thoughts, ideas, and feelings. When employees feel understood and supported, they are more likely to share their perspectives and collaborate effectively, leading to better decision-making and innovative problem-solving.
2. Reduced Stress and Burnout: Empathy helps create a supportive work environment where employees feel comfortable discussing challenges and seeking assistance. This reduces feelings of isolation and stress, which can significantly decrease the risk of burnout.
3. Improved Employee Engagement and Retention: Employees who feel understood and valued are more likely to be engaged and committed to their work. This increased engagement leads to higher job satisfaction and employee retention, reducing the costs associated with turnover.
4. Enhanced Leadership: ...
5. Positive Organizational Culture...

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

by Stanley Porter

Are You Walking the Empathy Talk?
It’s one thing to say you care. It’s another thing for people to feel you mean it. According to EY, 52% of employees currently believe their company’s efforts to be empathetic toward employees are dishonest―up from 46% in 2021, and employees increasingly report a lack of follow-through when it comes to company promises (47% compared to 42% in 2021).

While leaders may not intend to come across as empathetically dishonest, it’s their employees’ perceptions that count. To avoid being lumped into the leadership category of performative hypocrites, empathy should be thought of as a skill that can be developed and practiced daily. As Catalyst’s Hariton shared, “A lot of people think that you're either born empathetic, or if you're not, your mother taught you to be empathetic. And, if you didn't learn it by the time you were five years old, forget it. While certain personality traits tend to be more empathetic, empathy can absolutely be learned and developed. Practicing empathy is an actionable way to drive connection at work. It’s a force for productivity, work-life integration, and positive work experiences. And the good news is you can practice it in business, as well as at home with your family, your relatives, and your friends.”

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

Empathy has quickly become the new leadership buzzword. Some experts even debate the effectiveness of empathy versus compassion.

My work in the field of human care and connection began after a long career in corporate business development. In the aftermath of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary shooting, I served the school and community for five years. During that time, I observed that those hurting hurt even more when people around them don’t know how to adequately support them. I realized quickly that the gap between empathy and caring actions I witnessed at Sandy Hook was happening everywhere: not just in crises and tragedies, but every day in communities, teams and workplaces and organizations.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

by Nicole Price

The challenge is how do you get leaders to start prioritizing empathy if they don’t believe it belongs in their toolbox of leadership characteristics? The evidence that empathy in the workplace is a boon for business is quite convincing: 87 percent of CEOs believe a company’s financial performance is tied to empathy in the workplace, as do 79 percent of HR professionals.

Businesses need to have good leaders and managers to help the company persevere through challenging times and make the most out of favorable situations. While traditional management skills are still necessary, developing and cultivating new skills is also vital as the modern workplace shifts toward a person-focused approach.

One of the skills that leaders and managers should foster is empathy. An empathetic leader or manager can create an enjoyable work environment for employees, encouraging growth and productivity. Read on to learn more about empathy in leadership and what you can do to promote empathy in yourself and others.

Knowing these things is part of being a great leader and bringing out the best in the people around you.

Empathetic leadership
Leading with empathy and trust is a vastly overlooked skill. Knowing our people, understanding our team members, identifying with them and learning what inspires them. These are all vitally essential leadership traits.

Empathetic and trusting leadership is about showing you care and creating trust within your team…. trust builds an empowering, honest relationship with your colleagues. It opens the door for all to reach their full or unlimited potential. It breeds a culture of trust and inspiration across the team and the business.

The Importance of Active Listening
Active listening is a deliberate effort to understand and engage with a speaker’s message. It involves more than just hearing the words; it requires processing, interpreting, and responding to the information. By practicing active listening, sales professionals can:

Build trust and rapport with clients, paving the way for successful sales negotiations
Uncover clients’ needs, concerns, and preferences, which helps in tailoring solutions and overcoming objections
Strengthen interpersonal relationships by demonstrating empathy and understanding

By Jim Wilson
Practicing empathy in leadership goes a long way with employees, according to a new study.

In fact, 87 per cent of employees believe that leaders who practice genuine empathy can positively influence employees' mental health and overall wellbeing, reports Ernst & Young (EY).

Leaders should take note of this, as 38 per cent of Canadian employees feel their personal needs and wellbeing aren't being prioritized at work.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

Five tips to cultivate a culture of empathy
Pieterse provided five tips on how to cultivate a culture of empathy:

Don’t jump to conclusions: “If we don’t start asking questions and we’re not curious we’re not going to get to the heart of the problem,” said Pieterse. “We need to get to the heart of the problem to be able to know what the solutions are.”

Practice active listening: “I think sometimes we listen to respond instead of to understand,” explained Pieterse. “Ask yourself, are you really listening to understand and relate to that individual.”

Get a better perspective: With all the talk of DEIB in recent years, getting a better perspective should come easily. “You’ve got different people, with different backgrounds, skills and ideas and they’re all valuable, so are you treating it as valuable?”

by Emma Williamson 

A survey of more than 1,000 employees* has revealed that three quarters (74%) of employees say their leaders need to be doing more to understand why people are resistant to change and of those, over half (55%) said it would improve staff retention. Forty five percent also said it would make people more productive.

The survey shows that lack of support from or trust in leaders (41%), lack of awareness about the reason for change (38%), change in job role (27%) and exclusion from change-related decisions (23%) are the main reasons that would make people resistant to change.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

by Tom Ryan

An Ernst & Young (EY) survey finds 86 percent of employees believe empathetic leadership boosts morale and 87 percent see empathy as essential to fostering an inclusive environment. Many, however, feel their own employer’s efforts of this kind are disingenuous.

According to the survey taken last fall of more than 1,000 employed U.S. workers:

Fifty-two percent currently believe their company’s efforts to be empathetic toward employees are dishonest, up from 46 percent in 2021;

Forty-seven percent believe their company lacks follow-through when it comes to company promises, up from 42 percent in 2021.
EY cited past internal research showing flexibility in when and where employees work was a critical component of “fulfill[ing] the authenticity equation” regarding company culture.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

by Dr. Nicole Price

I have spent years of my life in the absence of empathy— in giving and receiving. Now, I have lived several years practicing empathy in my daily life, and I can tell you I am better because of it. I believe the people around me are, too. And if I, a trained engineer with few natural empathetic tendencies, can learn to be empathetic, anyone can.

My empathy journey began with my interaction with a stranger who became my mentor and friend, Dr. Ian Roberts. He was the first person to cause me to consider empathy as something that might hold value—but that consideration didn’t happen overnight. In the beginning, I knew there was no way I was going to hop on his empathy train, but I was curious as to why he believed in it so strongly and chose to give it so freely.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com

by By Mimi Nicklin, 
Here are three ways empathy can supercharge your career:

Empathy works across the entire organisation
Empathy is not just limited to your interactions with colleagues and peers, it can also be applied upwardly to leaders and bosses. By understanding and connecting with the perspectives and concerns of your managers, you can build stronger relationships and gain recognition as someone who is engaged and interested in their role.

This can lead to more opportunities for growth and advancement within the organization. When you show empathy towards your boss, you not only create a better working relationship but also help them to understand your own perspective, making it easier to collaborate and work effectively together.

The more you know, the more you grow

Empathetic leadership is much more than a feel-good addition to your skill set. It’s a must-have for leaders who intend to guide their companies to sustainable success. Happy employees are productive and invested. As Villanova University points out, the key to employee happiness is a workplace where they find trust, respect, security and a healthy environment.

#EmpathyCircles: A highly effective #Empathy building practice. http://EmpathyCircle.com    
#EmpathyTraining: http://BestEmpathyTraining.com