By: John Muller, MD Candidate
The fourth skill of emotional intelligence (EQ) that Goleman suggests is that of empathy.
Everyone can recall feeling empathy from a sensitive friend or mentor. Likewise, we have also felt the absence of empathy from a boss or old fling.
In regards to EQ and leadership, Goleman describes empathy as thoughtfully considering employees’ feelings, along with other factors, in the process of making intelligent decisions.
There is a sharp contrast in how people view the importance of empathy in the medical and business worlds. In medicine, empathy is celebrated, necessary, and prevalent. However, in business, empathy is suppressed and diminished.. The workplace is tough and leaders should be ruthless negotiators, right? (Wrong)
Individuals with empathy are attentive to emotional cues and listen well. They show sensitivity and understand others’ perspectives. This enables them to assist based on the understanding of other people’s needs and feelings.
The empathetic person takes an active interest in others’ concerns
When the going gets tough, would you rather work for a boss that is too worried about their own fate to consider your feelings or for the boss that knows how their team is feeling, acknowledges their own doubts, and is open with the team?
Goleman further explains that empathy is especially important today as a component of leadership for three reasons.
Reason 1: The increasing use of teams
Teams are often tasked to reach a consensus which is difficult when multiple emotions and agendas arise. The team leader’s empathy allows them to understand the team’s emotional state and direct the team toward a cohesive workflow.
Studies have found that employees were inspired to achieve more than expected when leaders displayed empathy, especially empathetic concern, perspective taking, and empathetic matching.
Reason 2: The rapid pace of globalization
It’s a small world after all. Cross-cultural dialogue can easily lead to miscues and misunderstandings. Empathy is critical for leaders to be attuned to the subtleties in body language and to understand the existence and importance of cultural and ethnic differences. Cultural competence is key!
Reason 3: The growing need to retain talent
Empathy plays a key role in the retention of talent. Leaders have always needed empathy to develop and keep good employees. In today’s information economy, when good employees leave they take the company’s knowledge with them. This could be a competitive disadvantage. The empathetic leader will promote better performance, increased job satisfaction, and decreased turnover.
In fact, one study found that higher levels of emotional intelligence and empathy for positive emotions were associated with reduced fatigue and burnout. Happy employees are more likely to enjoy their job and stay with the company, even when approached by headhunters.
Leaders with empathy do more than just sympathize with people around them. They use the knowledge they have acquired to improve their team and their company in subtle but important ways.
Try to find empathy in your workplace this week.