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Arthur Marara

Be empathetic

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings, experiences, and perspectives of others.

It involves putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, imagining their emotions and thoughts and responding with compassion and understanding.

Empathy goes beyond sympathy, which is simply acknowledging another person’s emotions without necessarily fully understanding or sharing them.

Empathy can be categorised into three main types:

Cognitive empathy

This refers to the intellectual understanding of another person’s emotions and perspective. It involves recognising and comprehending the emotions someone else is experiencing without necessarily feeling those emotions yourself. Cognitive empathy allows you to see things from another person’s point of view and understand their thoughts and feelings.

Emotional empathy

Also known as affective empathy, emotional empathy is the ability to vicariously experience and share the emotions of others. When you have emotional empathy, you can deeply feel what someone else is feeling, almost as if their emotions are contagious. This type of empathy helps you connect with others on an emotional level and respond with compassion and support.

Compassionate empathy

Compassionate empathy combines cognitive empathy and emotional empathy. It involves not only understanding and sharing another person’s emotions but also taking action to alleviate their suffering or provide support. Compassionate empathy drives people to help and support others, showing kindness, and taking steps to make a positive difference in their lives.

Disruptive times can be stressful for everyone. As a leader, it is important to be empathetic and understanding of your team’s needs and concerns. Empathy also helps you understand and connect with your team members on a deeper level. Empathy is a fundamental aspect of human connection, communication, and relationships. It allows individuals to establish trust, build strong connections, and foster understanding and co-operation. By practicing empathy, we can create a more compassionate and inclusive society where people feel heard, validated, and supported.

Difference between empathy and sympathy

There is a difference between empathy and sympathy. While they are related concepts involving understanding and compassion towards others, they differ in their nature and the way we relate to the emotions of others.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person. It involves putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and experiencing their emotions from their perspective. When you empathise with someone, you deeply connect with their emotional state and try to understand what they are going through without necessarily sharing the same feelings.

Sympathy, on the other hand, refers to feeling compassion, sorrow, or pity for someone else’s hardships or suffering. Unlike empathy, sympathy does not require you to personally experience or understand the emotions of others. Instead, it involves acknowledging their pain and offering comfort, support, or a sense of concern.

Empathy

Understanding and sharing the feelings of others by putting yourself in their shoes and connecting with their emotions.

Sympathy

Feeling compassion, sorrow, or pity for someone’s difficulties or suffering without necessarily fully understanding their emotions.

Both empathy and sympathy play important roles in human interactions, but empathy is often considered more profound as it involves a deeper emotional connection and understanding of others’ experiences.

8 reasons why you need to be empathetic

Empathetic leadership plays a crucial role in disruptive times for several reasons:

• Building Trust and Psychological safety

Disruptive times often bring uncertainty, fear, and anxiety among employees. By practicing empathy, leaders can create an environment of trust and psychological safety. When team members feel understood and supported, they are more likely to openly communicate, take risks, and collaborate effectively.

• Enhancing employee well-being

Disruptions can impact employees’ mental and emotional well-being. Empathetic leaders recognise and address these challenges by actively listening, offering support, and providing resources. This focus on well-being fosters a sense of belonging and helps employees cope with stress, ultimately improving their overall performance.

• Boosting engagement and morale

During disruptive periods, employee morale can decline due to increased workloads or changes in responsibilities. Empathetic leaders understand the individual needs and concerns of their team members and work towards solutions that promote engagement and motivation. By valuing and appreciating employees, empathetic leaders inspire loyalty and commitment even in challenging circumstances.

• Fostering resilience and adaptability

Disruptions require individuals and teams to navigate change and uncertainty. Empathetic leaders empower their employees by helping them develop resilience and adaptability skills. By showing understanding and supporting growth opportunities, leaders enable their teams to embrace change, learn from setbacks, and innovate.

• Improving decision making

In disruptive times, leaders must make critical decisions that impact the organisation and its employees. Empathy allows leaders to consider diverse perspectives, gather insights from their team members, and make informed decisions that consider the human impact. This inclusive approach leads to better decision-making outcomes.

• Facilitating effective change management

Disruptive times often involve implementing significant changes within an organisation. Empathetic leaders guide their teams through change by acknowledging the challenges and concerns, addressing them proactively, and supporting employees throughout the transition. This empathetic approach helps minimise resistance and increase acceptance of change initiatives.

Strengthening Relationships and Collaboration Empathetic leaders foster strong relationships with their team members, promoting open communication and collaboration. By understanding the needs and motivations of individuals, leaders can align talents, assign roles effectively, and encourage collaboration even in disruptive situations. This leads to improved teamwork, problem-solving, and innovation.

• Enhancing Customer Experience

Empathy extends beyond internal relationships. Leaders who practice empathy understand the impact disruptions have on customers or clients. By empathising with customer needs and concerns, leaders can guide their teams to deliver exceptional service and find innovative solutions that address customer challenges effectively.

Overall, empathetic leadership in disruptive times creates a positive work culture, supports employee well-being, and enables organisations to navigate challenges with resilience, adaptability, and unity. It fosters a sense of belonging, trust, and loyalty, ultimately leading to improved performance, productivity, and long-term success.

In the following article, we will discuss how we can be empathetic as leaders.

Arthur Marara is a corporate law attorney, keynote speaker, corporate and personal branding speaker commanding the stage with his delightful humour, raw energy, and wealth of life experiences. He is a financial wellness expert and is passionate about addressing the issues of wellness, strategy and personal and professional development. Arthur is the author of “Toys for Adults” a thought provoking book on entrepreneurship, and “No one is Coming” a book that seeks to equip leaders to take charge.

Feedback: [email protected] or Visit his website www.arthurmarara.com or contact him on WhatsApp: +263780055152 or call +263772467255.