Empathy Beyond the Title
Empathy is a word so often thrown around solely at events filled with loss, despair, and hurt. It resonates often with condolences and when someone needs a helping hand. However, empathy plays a crucial role in all the interpersonal dynamics we are a part of throughout our daily lives. We kiss our children goodnight, we hug our partners when we’ve missed them, and we laugh at the stories our friends tell. So, why do we not associate empathy with the workplace?
Countless anecdotal stories have riddled the internet with people complaining of bad bosses or unbearable coworkers. We’ve watched as thousands have taken to social media to preach quiet quitting and not allowing the powers that be to exploit you. Why is that? I believe we can pinpoint a rather large, if not the largest, culprit in this corporate collapse of happiness: empathy.
How we are treated and received throughout the day shapes the way our performance plays out and can shift our mental health either for the better or plummeting down. Where sympathy stands to allow you to understand what someone has been through, having been through it yourself, empathy steps up to acknowledge and properly respond to the feelings and happenings of others through genuine care. This is regardless of if you can truly comprehend their situations or not. You may be pondering now if everyone has this ability since we all know that people person, and the other who cannot stand to be around others.
I come bearing good news! Empathy is a practicable strength that can come through functional use of proper leadership strategies. We first must look at authentic leadership. This style takes a heavy lift of introspection as we take the time to truly understand ourselves alongside our beliefs and values. After we have accounted for what drives us, we see how we fit into the bigger picture and thus draw on our strengths while leveraging our spots for improvement. Once you have gained a deeper understanding of “what makes you tick” either through personality tests, self-reflection, or feedback, you should have a good base to support others.
To actively listen and give genuine attention to those we encounter is the pivotal moment in which people will perceive you as someone displaying an environment of psychological safety. Through this, we can foster better communication and a sense of buy-in where your people will feel protected enough to share their thoughts and ideas. This sense of individualized consideration can be the gateway through which people pass to move from worker to member.
Humans, being the social creatures that we are, are continuously seeking connection. This could look like friendship, relationships, or mentorship. Yet, we are very quick to build walls around us as a perceived sense of vulnerability can inexplicably label us as weak, or meager. You can be the difference in that through transparency and vulnerability in your actions. Setting the example by demonstrating that these actions do not necessarily take away from your validity can inspire a shift in the workplace.
We tend to forget that each of us have a sphere of influence. One coworker might be kindhearted, and others go to them often for support or to vent. Another may even be the best technician and just excels at their work. In each of these scenarios, they can influence those around them. This is why being empathetic, and changing organizational culture, can go far beyond given titles or positions. No matter where you fall on the “totem pole”, you can make a positive impact by showing the types of communication and care, through the use of empathy, that you yourself would have liked to see as you were growing in your career. Each of us has the ability, or even the responsibility, to make our environments better. Do not let positional authority be the barrier to creating that for yourself and those you may be with.
