Fearless Leaders Are Empathetic.

Fearless Leadership: Pillar Five - Empathetic

The Five Pillars of Fearless Leadership are BRAVE: B for Bold; R for Respectful; A for Adventurous; V for Valiant; and E for Empathetic.

Today we are focusing on EMPATHETIC.

This is my favorite pillar, so I have saved it for last so it is fresh in your mind! So many people think that empathy is a “woo-woo” word and is too soft for someone who needs to lead to show results or is in a competitive corporate environment. This could not be further from the truth. Empathic leaders are actually the strongest bulls in the pen! It shows confidence and wisdom to lead with empathy.

What is an empathic leader? They can sense another person’s emotions and imagine what they might be thinking or feeling. This significantly changes the way a leader then interacts with that person. An empathic leader does not jump to conclusions or make rash judgements. They recognize another person or another group’s experiences and viewpoints, and take a moment to respond with that perspective in mind. Compassion is a close cousin to empathy. A compassionate leader is kind and caring, patient and wise. They engage in active listening. They look at their team members as human beings first, employees second. They are able to enter into real and meaningful relationships with others. They show their humanity, and if we are not human, then what are we?

Sandy’s Empathic Leadership Tips:

·       When someone is talking to you, look them in the eye and focus just on them. And really listen, process and then determine what your response will be.

·       Practice meditation – it will teach you to calm your busy mind.

·       Before judging, think what it might be like to be the other person or what is going on in their life. This will change your interaction significantly.

·       Practice mindfulness – this is focusing on the present moment, what is in front of you and taking a moment to process before reacting. This helps you pay attention to the person who is talking with you, and be wise about your response, avoiding the all too familiar “knee jerk reaction.”

·       Don’t lip service interest in others – they will sniff out the insincerity instantly. Take a moment to breathe in and really care about their humanity.

·       Think “how would I want to be treated – to be heard?”

Don’t ever worry that empathic is wimpy, whether you are a woman trying to make it to the C-Suite or a man trying to prove how tough you are.

Sandy Heydt is former c-suite marketing executive with a background as a counseling psychologist. She is an organizational start-up and turnaround specialist, working with business owners and investors worldwide, including human space flight, flying car companies, and luxury hotels. Skilled at maximizing human potential, she is a leadership coach and speaker who focuses on leading with humanity. You can reach her at sandy@heydt.co.