One large quality of a great leader is their ability to be empathetic and to understand the requirements and respective qualities of others. In the provided example of the organization, Toro, the use of empathetic behavior is highly effective in connecting with affected employees and further establishing a comprehensive network or association with these employees for future success (Bariso, 2016). When employees feel as though their efforts at a company are being recognized and rewarded either through the use of empathy by a leader such as a CEO or the provision of benefits, they become better at their main roles and jobs and provide a greater and more worthwhile contribution.
Empathy is often an overlooked aspect of great leadership as most people and organizations in the 21st century and prior to this have the expectation that great leaders are purely judged on what they can achieve for the company and not for their employees. For example, many companies will only look at what the leader is doing to raise their revenue and profits and refuse to focus more on the efforts of employees that may be responsible for profit increases (Gentry, 2007). Furthermore, for many centuries, conventional leadership perspectives have focused on leaders being very assertive and restrictive in how much freedom they provide their employees with. Additionally, military perspectives of leadership have proven to be successful as wars have been won and lost based on how grand and conventional a leader was throughout battle.
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The quality empathy is also overlooked as a crucial aspect of good leadership as many people regard it as being a sign of weakness and providing too much power and authority to employees. Most people forget that certain guidelines and ways of leadership can ensure that employees know their standing whilst also being provided with many benefits for good and hard work such as worthwhile contributions to both small and large organizations overall (Gentry, 2007).
Empathy is important for good leadership for a number of reasons. It firstly forces leaders to better interact with their subordinates and the cultivation of positive working relationships between leaders and their employees can motivate others and result in a high level of performance overall (Bariso, 2016). Additionally, empathy can reassure respective employees that their respective requirements and substantial work ethics will be noticed and subsequently rewarded. Good leaders should be able to multi-task and as such, be able to balance both the requirements of their subordinates with that of the organization. Some of these requirements involve showing empathy for both the organization and subordinates (Wilson, 2015). For example, on tougher days where employees have dedicated more time and work to the company, leaders should congratulate them and in some circumstances, reward them with extra pay or other benefits.
Empathy is also important in good leadership because a show of passion can motivate trust and respect amongst employees. Trust is very difficult to retain but so easy to lose and it can be further engrained within subordinates if a leader shows empathy and a high level of honesty and loyalty to their employees at all times (Bariso, 2016). Loyalty is inherently and intrinsically related to empathy as good leaders are able to develop a high level of loyalty within their subordinates and with respect to the organization that they are all working for.
In summary, empathy is one significant leadership trait that is required for every good leader. Despite conventional leadership lessons and requirements, good leaders in the 21st century are able to show empathy and develop within their employees, a high level of respect and trust that can cultivate higher levels of performance at all times.
- Bariso, J. (2016). Empathy: The Basic Quality Many Leaders Keep Getting Wrong. Inc, Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/empathy-the-basic-quality-many-leaders-keep-getting-wrong.html Accessed on 8th April, 2016.
- Gentry, W. (2007). Empathy in the Workplace – A Tool for Effective Leadership. Center for
Creative Leadership, Retrieved from http://insights.ccl.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/EmpathyInTheWorkplace.pdf Accessed on 8th April, 2016. - Wilson, E. (2015). Empathy is Still Lacking in the Leaders Who Need It Most. Harvard Business Review, Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2015/09/empathy-is-still-lacking-in-the-leaders-who-need-it-most Accessed on 8th April, 2016.
