How to Improve Organisational Culture and Wellbeing Through Developing Empathy at Work
More frustrations are showing up than ever before and the majority of these frustrations are personal/emotional as well as some work frustrations. Day-to-day life is tough for so many people. Individuals can be working their way through multiple issues at one time from making the household income stretch to the next payday, working in a job they dislike, caring for an elderly parent, supporting a friend or family member with a health issue, and balancing work and family commitments.
What is empathy and why is it important?
Dr KV Petrides, author of the Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire (TEIQue) defines empathy as an“understanding of other people's viewpoints and their reasons for feeling and acting the way they do. It also looks at how far you take their motives and feelings into account when considering how to respond to them.”
If you understand why someone is doing or thinking something, you are in a better position to communicate with them effectively.
People with high levels of empathy are skillful in conversations and negotiations because they consider the viewpoints of those they are communicating with. They can put themselves in someone else's shoes and see things from their perspective. The downside to this is that sometimes others may try to take advantage of their willingness to understand and may try to manipulate them therefore being empathetic all of the time could harm our well-being.
On the other hand, those with lower levels of empathy may find it harder to appreciate other people's emotions, views, and needs. This means they will not let other people’s issues get in the way of the bigger picture, a target to be achieved by a certain date, a change that has to be made to improve organisational performance, or an important personal decision that may affect others.
If leaders want to create organisations that are psychologically safe and attractive places to work and develop, they need to develop empathy in the workplace. Research shows that in organisations with empathetic leaders, employees call in sick with stress-related illnesses less often, report burnout less, have better mental health and greater intent to stay in their organisation.
How to develop empathy in the workplace
Ask questions to better understand other people’s thoughts, emotions, and feelings. When someone tells you about a challenge they are facing ask them how it makes them feel and what they think about the challenge.
Encourage kindness and compassionate acts and reward team members for acting compassionately and empathetically.
As a leader practice self-compassion by treating yourself as you would someone you cared about.
Invest time connecting with the team to better understand them and their reasons for behaving the way they do. This means giving them the space to freely express themselves.
Want inspiration and tips?
Click the button below to subscribe to my fortnightly short email on leadership topics.
