Why Empathy Will Build Your Team and Your Bottom Line

One of the most overlooked and underestimated strengths of a leader in the workplace is empathy. Often misunderstood and perceived as weakness, empathy has the power to change the culture and trajectory of your workplace for the better. Beware of righting empathy off as an unproductive journey into feelings and see the power of connectedness at work in your company. 

Empathy is defined as: the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.  

If you ever believed that knowing someone’s thoughts was a superpower, you understand how effective empathy is at working with people and building relationships. Empathy requires an ability to leave your own perspective and allow yourself to experience a situation through the lens of someone else’s life. 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep"  

Romans 12:15 

Benefits of Empathy 

The benefit of empathy to the workplace is internal and external. Internally you can boost the health of your relationships and experience less turnover. This is a difference maker as you create a positive culture in your workplace. Empathy makes people feel heard, valued and connected. Practically, this can be done in a few minutes at the beginning of a meeting, engaging in some group questions or in a one-on-one environment. Empathy can provide insight into performance issues and recognizes a person beyond simply what they do at work. 

Finding and retaining good employees is crucial. The process of hiring can be costly in terms of time, money and energy. Spend time creating rapport with your team and as they develop a sense of belonging, they will be more likely to experience satisfaction in their role. 

“Without empathy it is not possible to get the best from your team, so for this reason it is the key to everything” 

Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft 

Externally, when working with clients, consultants and contractors, adding empathy moves business beyond transactions. It recognizes the human condition. Clients are not simply viewed as revenue, they are people who they have dreams, insecurities and families. When we understand that, we can serve and provide meaningful products and services that carry insight that build long lasting fruitful relationships. Empathy laces all our work effort with purpose. If you work in any kind of sales, empathy is a crucial strength to develop. 

3 Ways to Grow in Empathy 

I am convinced that if you want to grow in empathy for someone, the very best thing you can do is pray for them. Prayer connects your heart to someone or something. The bible instructs us to pray for our enemies, when we do this our heart moves from a position of opposition and soften towards that person. As we experience this heart transformation, we become agents of reconciliation and compassion.

A second way to grow in empathy is to get better at asking questions. When we ask questions and demonstrate a genuine interest in learning about someone’s life we connect with them. Maybe as part of your next 1:1 meeting you could start with some simple questions with the aim of connecting. When people feel connected, they feel more secure and stable.

The final way of growing in empathy works in tandem with asking questions; and it is the skill to listen. Listening is a deeply valuable skill that provides insight and understanding to those that use it well. In a culture that seems to get busier and busier, the ability to listen has greatly diminished. Take notes or ask follow up questions when people talk, show that you have listened to what they said. I promise you it will make you a better more empathetic leader. 

“If you're asking how to create a more empathetic workplace, you're already way ahead of everybody else.” 

Daniel Lubetzky, Founder of KIND