Becoming a Better Company Leader By Showing Your Employees Empathy

When you think about what it takes to build a successful business, what comes to mind? Most people might say quality products or services, great customer service, or being known as a reliable brand.

While all of these answers are true, one of the most important elements of a successful business is a highly engaged and motivated team. The attitude and work ethic of your employees can make the difference between a successful company and one that simply gets by.

But achieving this level of motivation doesn’t happen automatically. It takes patience and quality leadership to develop a truly exceptional team. One way you can help build closer bonds with your own employees while helping them to stay more engaged with their work is by showing empathy.

The Importance of Showing Empathy as a Leader

Being more empathetic towards others likely means something different to everyone. However, when put in the context of your business, it means taking a real interest in who each employee is—their likes, interests, and their physical and emotional health.

To gain this perspective, you first need to be willing to get to know each individual in the business more personally. This includes understanding what motivates them in both their personal and professional lives, as well as any hurdles they might be dealing with and are willing to share with others.

Having a more personal view of each of your team members helps you to always view employees as people first, not simply workers.

Using the Building Blocks of Trust

If you were to start a renovation project in your home, the first thing you would want to evaluate is the foundation of the home before you begin putting more investments into cosmetic elements. The same is true with your business. If you haven’t built a strong foundation of trust with your employees, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to extract more value from those relationships.

Building this level of trust, however, isn’t only on your employees. It takes work on behalf of company leaders, especially when it comes to ongoing communication and support. You should be willing to regularly listen to employees’ concerns, new ideas, or even their feedback when given.

Gathering Unique Employee Perspectives

A common misconception for new company leaders is that they’re now the ones with all the answers. This can actually be detrimental to both a leader’s professional growth and their employees, but it creates a more closed-minded approach to team management.

The truth is, most teams are made up of individuals with diverse backgrounds, skillsets, and life experiences. Tapping into this diversity by actively listening to multiple perspectives when coming across a specific problem can be an incredible asset as a business leader.

When you take the time to allow all of your employees to play an active role in discussing and working through company challenges, it can add significant value to the business. It also sends a clear message to employees that their opinions are always welcome, regardless of their role within the company.

Showing Employees They’re More Than Just a Number

Modern working environments are often filled with stress. There can be a lot of pressure placed on employees to meet strict deadlines or go outside their comfort zones, which can lead to additional anxiety that not only impacts their work but also their mental and physical health.

Recognizing and responding to these situations is critical for business leaders. This might mean encouraging staff members to take more breaks throughout the day, use the paid vacation days that have been afforded to them, and take the time to acknowledge all the hard work they’ve put in.

You may be surprised just how much it means to someone when they hear that the company appreciates the work they put in or are given a special shoutout during team meetings.

Encouraging Open and Honest Communication

Open and honest communication with your employees is a core element of empathetic leadership. It’s about creating a safe space for your teams to express themselves and share their perspectives without fear of being judged or having their ideas minimized.

By creating this type of environment, your employees will be less likely to overly filter their thoughts and share honest feedback concerning their working situation or how they feel about the direction the business is going in.

When more employees freely express themselves to their leaders, it can create a strong ripple effect, with other team members feeling confident enough to do the same.

Building a Supportive Working Environment

Another element of empathic leadership is taking a real interest in the professional development of your employees. When you take an active interest in how well each employee positions themself on a long-term career path, it really helps to instill a deeper respect in the minds of your staff.

One of the best ways to show this level of interest to your employees is by looking for different opportunities that encourage your teams to step out of their comfort zones while developing new skillsets. Depending on their role, this might mean signing them up for management courses, offering to pay all or a portion of their tuition for job-related classes, and sitting down with each team member to better understand their long-term career goals.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a home renovation service company, a law firm, or a restaurant. Investing in your employees’ success gives a powerful message to your teams that you’re confident in their abilities and want to see them succeed, whether they work for this business or another.

Lead Your Company To Long-Term Success

Becoming a successful leader in your business is one of the best ways to keep your employees more engaged and motivated to help it grow. By following the strategies discussed and showing empathy to each of your team members, you’ll be able to be more effective in this approach.

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