Current research indicates that  leadership empathy results in positive outcomes at work. 

“ A new study of 889 employees by Catalyst found empathy has some significant constructive effects:

·       Innovation. When people reported their leaders were empathetic, they were more likely to report they were able to be innovative—61% of employees compared to only 13% of employees with less empathetic leaders.

·       Engagement. 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged compared with only 32% who experienced less empathy.

·       Retention. 57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies. However, when they didn’t feel that level of value or respect for their life circumstances, only 14% and 30% of white women and women of color respectively said they were unlikely to consider leaving. 

·       Inclusivity. 50% of people with empathetic leaders reported their workplace was inclusive, compared with only 17% of those with less empathetic leadership.

·       Work-Life. When people felt their leaders were more empathetic, 86% reported they are able to navigate the demands of their work and life—successfully juggling their personal, family and work obligations. This is compared with 60% of those who perceived less empathy.

Cooperation is also a factor. According to a study published in Evolutionary Biology, when empathy was introduced into decision making, it increased cooperation and even caused people to be more empathetic. Empathy fostered more empathy.

Mental health. The study by Qualtrics found when leaders were perceived as more empathetic, people reported greater levels of mental health.

Wired for Empathy

In a study by Lund University, children as young as two demonstrated an appreciation that others hold different perspectives than their own. And research at the University of Virginia found when people saw their friends experiencing threats, they experienced activity in the same part of their brain which was affected when they were personally threatened. People felt for their friends and teammates as deeply as they felt for themselves. All of this makes empathy an important part of our human condition—at work and in our personal lives. “

Forbes: Tracer Brower Empathy Is The Most Important Leadership Skill According To Research

Leading with Empathy

       Empathy is demonstrating an active concern for people and their needs by forming close and supportive relationships with others. How you might develop empathy with others. 

Get to know people,  know their background and interest,  you can do this by being on the work floor talking to others one on one, implement a monthly 1-1 meeting schedule with those you lead. Early in my career. I would meet monthly with all employees who had a birthday in that month. We would meet and discuss what was on their minds. Later on in my career I established morning coffee and donuts with senior executives. This was a 30-minute coffee break with  senior executives. 

Practice holding off judgement and critique and stay open to listening. Stay wickedly curious and use powerful questions to gather all the data you desire. Typically, people are asking you to help them with a stuck point. You at that point have real power to help. Don’t ! You must believe that people are naturally creative and powerful. They have the answer to their problem. So, your role is to guide them-by asking powerful questions. 

As leader you have the always listen role, listen more talk less.Practice empathetic listening by listening to the words, the tone, pace and emotions in the person talking to you. Communications is about the content , the emotions and the relationship. 

Create a gratitude journal and record at the end day where you were successful in practicing empathy.

Seek feedback from  people  you trust to give you feedback about your empathy meter. Later on, as you improve your skills seek out people who are more critical of your empathy. 

Be transparent and when you feel a lack of connection, and something is off name the stuck point and ask for feedback

Be genuine and even a little vulnerable.

One last perspective when you approach communication with an open hand. (Without judgement and critique), an open heart( kind, respectful heart set for the person you are talking too)  and an open mind( without your previous experiences with the other person)  you will have a positive empathetic conversation. 

The ultimate goal here is to allow the people you listen too will judge that you care about them.