5 Characteristics of an Empathetic Leader and Why We Need More of Them

The word “leader” sounds enticing, but it comes with heavy responsibility. Leadership is a privilege not a title. Being a leader is no easy task and is more than just delegating jobs in the workplace; you also have to consider your team members’ feelings. Practicing empathy in the workplace will help you build the trust you need. In doing so we need to remind ourselves that vulnerability humanizes authority.

An empathic leader can engage the team better and improve the members’ relationship. It also promotes security, productivity, and motivation for everyone.

‘What characteristics does an empathic leader possess?’

Let’s break them down into the five most important skills, attributes and traits.

1. Approachable

Has anyone told you that it’s easy for them to talk and share their concerns with you? If yes, that’s because you look approachable. More often than not, most team members find it quite challenging to approach their leaders because of the hierarchy in the workplace. We must exert efforts in breaking that barrier so our team members feel comfortable asking for our guidance and support.

2. Genuine

It can be a vague word, yes. Authenticity is often easier to portray, but how can a leader show genuineness? Aside from work-related concerns, have you asked your team members how they are or how their family is? It can be a daunting task to move conversation to a more personal level, but this is one of the most effective ways to show that we care about them. After taking the time to listen to them, we can now think of ways to help them achieve their goals and aspirations to make them feel they are valued beyond the workplace.

3. Engaging

Our team members have a lot of brilliant ideas. But how can we extract that greatness from them? We can only do that by welcoming them to contribute and involving them in the conversation. Letting them share their thoughts and sentiments, giving feedback, brainstorming ideas on how to improve and conquer the challenges together as a team is an effective way to make everyone engaged.

4. Flexible

I always say that a good leader should hope for the best but prepare for the worst. But are you? We often expect our team members to be flexible, and as a leader, we should be the frontrunner. An empathic leader is quick to gauge the needs of their team members and adapt accordingly. This will foster a culture of inclusion,innovation, and creativity. Flexibility should be both practical and emotional.

5. Empowering

An empathic leader makes team members feel both heard and validated. This creates an environment where staff feel empowered and motivated. If everyone is empowered, it is easier to inspire a vision and the promotes shared accountability. Delegating tasks and assigning specific outcomes to key individuals is an effective ways to empower people. We show them we trust them, they give back, deliver, and more.

Without an appropriate level of emotional intelligence, affective empathy can be looked upon as weakness, but in reality it’s the exact opposite. Being empathic allows us to normalize emotion, show vulnerability, and prove that we are all human. An empathetic leader offers understanding and the ability to find common ground. They can remove their ego, set their opinions aside, and view a challenge through the eyes of those that choose to follow them.