Empathy and compassion. Two traits that, while closely linked, each deserve their own moment in the spotlight. Empathy is defined as the ability to understand what motivates people; the thoughts and feelings behind their actions. To have compassion is then to take that empathy and apply it in order to help them overcome difficulty. These two traits, when combined, can help those in leadership become more trusted stewards in businesses, communities, or at home. While we all like to think that we demonstrate these traits implicitly, sometimes we can let the stresses of everyday life interfere with these. It’s common for leaders to be so wrapped up in the immediate challenge of the day, while brushing aside the issues their team members face. So how do we truly cultivate these abilities in order to more deeply connect with team members and thus become better, more trusted leaders? In a new article featured in Chief Executive Magazine, Doug Lennick and Chuck Wachendorfer have laid out easy some steps to follow.
The first is to become an active listener. In order to truly have empathy toward someone else, a leader has to understand the struggles that person is experiencing. Active listening is the practice of not just waiting for our turns to speak, it’s listening with only the motivation to understand. Not respond, not defend, not agree or disagree. Just listening for the sake of hearing someone else. Although it is perhaps the easiest thing to do, it’s not often a part of our conversations. The second step involves turning empathy into compassion by helping the team member with their issues. Setting aside time, even 10 minutes per day, to address struggles can keep everyone focused and on task. After these two steps are implemented, Lennick and Wachendorfer say, team members will begin to feel more heard and understood. In this way, leaders have effectively created what they call a “culture of belonging”. And lastly, with these new skills and new operating culture, leaders and their teams are able to move forward as a cohesive unit, with shared goals and a sense of community. Give the full article a read for a deeper dive on their steps, and see how you can become a more effective leader at work, at home, and in the world at large.
