Empathetic/Compassionate Leadership

This week my friend Amie York joins me on the podcast to talk about empathetic and compassionate leadership.

We often see leaders as strong, confrontational, type A, and even bossy, but could it be that leadership is best seen in a different vein? The world tells us that leadership can’t be kind, gracious, compassionate, caring, and empathetic, but what if the world is wrong.

In the podcast, Amie used the line, “When a person knows that they are supported, there’s not much they will not accomplish.” Followers who know their leader cares have a better chance of being the best version of themselves. Supporting and caring for followers and others around you is a critical step to supporting and encouraging those who follow you. A leader who cares deeply about you, your context, your family, and your situation, helps to ensure that you give your best at work.

So, what does an empathetic compassionate leader look like?

Trust – Amie noted this in her podcast. As leaders we like to think our followers trust us, but in many instances that is not true. For instance, how willing are your followers to tell you the truth in any situation? Are they willing to tell you when you are wrong, or making a bad decision?  Will they tell you when they are considering other job options or are frustrated with their current role? Trust is not easy to gain, but it is easy to recognize. The followers of the compassionate empathetic leader trust their leader, and they know their leaders have their best interest in mind even if they disagree or consider other jobs.

Focus – While the organization matters, the compassionate empathetic leaders focus is not the organization, but the employee. This leader understands their greatest asset is their followers or employees. Followers and employees make the organization great, not the leader. The best leaders willingly invest in their followers/employees. They work to ensure that their employees have everything needed to succeed.

Encouragement – These leaders encourage their followers to be their best at work, home, with family, and friends. Compassionate empathetic leaders recognize that their followers have lives that expand far beyond their role within the organization. They have marriages, families, homes, friends, and things that they care about beyond the job. Thus, compassionate empathetic leaders encourage their followers to live their best lives in every moment.

Remember, leading with compassion and empathy is not a sign of weakness. Leading from this vantage point is a constant reminder to your followers that you care. Choose compassion and empathy.