Empathy in the Workplace

Empathy in the workplace is essential to a positive employee experience.

Workplace empathy creates an environment where employees and customers feel valued, appreciated and cared for. Empathy unites business leaders and employees and helps build an inclusive and positive corporate culture. In a world where employees often measure up potential employers based on culture, empathy and kindness, understanding and displaying authentic empathy is crucial for modern businesses.

Understanding Empathy
Empathy is a widely misunderstood concept in marketing and beyond. Empathizing with someone does not mean you blindly agree with their thoughts and opinions. Instead, true empathy is about understanding those around you.

The University of California’s Greater Good Research Center defines empathy as “the ability to sense other people’s emotions, coupled with the ability to imagine what someone else might be thinking or feeling.”

Executives are not exercising what most likely makes up this most critical skill.
Julia Milner

When asked what traits constitute a good leader, you may be tempted to list traditional qualities such as rationality, cool-headedness and, overall, an ability to detach oneself from one’s emotions.

However, research has shown that the ability to feel empathy towards one’s colleagues is in fact the most critical leadership skill, and much overlooked. Empathy is on record for boosting employees’ ability to innovate, engage with the task at hand, balance work and life demands, and not least, motivate them to stay within the company.

By: Champa Ha

Empathy is often lauded as a great way to boost employees’ ability to innovate, ability to engage with tasks, balance work and life demands, and implore employees to stay at their current positions.

However, many organisations see a lack of managers expressing empathy, as detailed by Julia Milner, a Professor of Leadership at the EDHEC Business School in an article for The Conversation. In a recent research paper on effective leadership authored by Professor Milner, what she found was that managers rated empathy as one of the most challenging skills, above the skills of asking questions and providing feedback.

I don’t think empathy is a soft skill. In fact, it is the hardest skill we learn, to relate to the world, to relate to the people that matter the most to us. In fact, innovation is about meeting the unmet, unarticulated needs of customers. What’s the source of that? Some would say design thinking. But design thinking is empathy. - I would say it's actually a very important buisiness skill.” Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella made this statement during an exclusive interview with Axel Springer CEO Mathias Döpfner.

At my company, BriteCo, we've seen empathy help enable employee retention, drive customer satisfaction and sales, improve innovation and create a supportive work environment and culture. People who feel appreciated and acknowledged want to go to bat or you and your business.

Our employees are excited and engaged and want to contribute. They function in a safe environment where everybody feels that they can weigh in. They feel heard and valued, relevant and important. It has also helped us recruit outstanding talent, where people have referred colleagues and former co-workers to us. That culture of empathy has spread to partners, customers, vendors and every aspect of our business. When you're an empathetic leader, the approach and benefits are felt company-wide.

by Nucleus_AI

Discover why empathy, the hardest skill according to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, is essential for success in life and business.

Nadella's belief in the power of empathy is not confined to his personal life. He emphasises its importance in the professional realm as well. He contends that empathy for one's team is a crucial element in career development. When leaders empathise with their team members, it fosters an environment where individuals can perform at their best, leading to progress and success.

Furthermore, studies have shown that empathy is one of the most critical leadership skills. Nearly 90% of surveyed U.S. workers reported that having an empathetic manager enhances job satisfaction, productivity, and loyalty.

In one of his recent interviews, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that empathy reshaped him ‘as a human being, as a parent, as a partner, and as a leader at work.’ As we live in this world ruled more by technology than human emotions, imbibing empathy within yourself and for others is one of the key aspects in reshaping your life. , People News, Times Now

Good political leadership requires acumen, decisiveness – and empathy. Jacinda Ardern, former prime minister of New Zealand, built her career with empathy at its core. During the 5 ½ years that she led her country, Ardern demonstrated that value repeatedly, from her successful approach to protecting lives during the pandemic to her quick action to strengthen gun control following attacks on mosques. Now a fellow at Harvard and a role model to many, Ardern will reflect on what it’s like to make hard but compassionate policy choices under a global spotlight. 

by Steve Taplin
great leaders understand that empathy is not a sign of weakness but a powerful tool for building trust, fostering collaboration, and driving organizational success. Contrary to the belief that leaders must be tough and unyielding, embracing empathy allows them to connect on a deeper level, inspire their teams and create a positive, more productive work environment. This article dives into the function of empathy in leadership, debunking the myth that leaders are soft for showing empathy and highlighting the key takeaways for leaders seeking to harness their potential.

Why is empathy in the workplace important?
A recent study by Business Solver found that 68% of HR professionals view their CEO as empathetic, which is a decline from the previous year and the lowest level ever reported.

Empathy is your ability to understand someone else’s feelings. This skill allows you to relate to their thoughts and feelings and use that information to aid your response. Empathy enables you to respond to a team member kindly and compassionately.

It’s also important to note the difference between empathy and sympathy. While these terms are similar, they don’t deliver the same personal acknowledgment.

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the thoughts, experiences, and feelings of someone else.
Sympathy is having compassion or concern for another person’s hardship, but without necessarily fully understanding their emotions.
Empathy can be used to foster great relationships and throughtfully relay the company’s care for its staff. Leaders who follow empathetic practices can:

Hello, leaders and future leaders. Today, I want to talk about a leadership quality that can truly transform our world: empathy. In a world that often seems disconnected, leaders who lead with compassion and empathy stand out like beacons of light.

Empathy isn't just understanding someone's emotions; it's feeling them as if they were your own. When we empathize, we build bridges of understanding and unity. Empathetic leaders create environments where people feel heard, valued, and supported.

So, my fellow leaders, let's embrace empathy as a superpower—one that enhances our ability to lead effectively and make a positive impact. Let's listen deeply, connect authentically, and lead with kindness.

How do you know what the people you lead really care about? How do you help them to give their all to the enterprise? Jodi Halpern of the University of California, Berkeley, draws from her medical experience to explain how empathic curiosity can help in key areas of leadership.

The discussion highlighted the importance of how organisations and leaders must create a more empathetic and understanding environment at work place

Corporate sector has a huge reach and it can make a difference when it comes to providing an empathetic space to people, said Anjali Gopalan, Executive Director, The Naz Foundation, at the 4th edition of e4m PR and Corp Comm Women Achievers Summit.

Empathy—the ability to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes—is one of the most important skills we can cultivate in future leaders. Yet recent findings have shown that 42% of Americans said empathy has outright declined over the past year, and of them, 81% were concerned.

When I think about my own life, the most empathetic people I’ve ever met are those who face their own challenges. Their ability to understand and relate to another person’s struggles is unmatched. My younger brother, Andy, for example, was born with Down syndrome. Growing up, I developed a deep understanding of both the obvious challenges he faced and the extraordinary gifts he brought to our family. Experiencing life through his perspective has taught me to never judge a book by its cover and to always dig deeper to understand an individual’s unique gifts and value. Andy cares for others unconditionally, gives energy through his warmth and affection and always shows a genuine interest in everyone he meets. I look for superpowers like Andy’s in everyone I meet.

Empathy plays a pivotal role in effective leadership by fostering understanding, connection, and trust among team members, resulting in improved collaboration and overall organizational success.

by DevinPartida

Empathy is the ability to relate to and understand other people — a superpower in the corporate world. Leaders who demonstrate empathy create a positive workplace for everyone to excel and produce outstanding results.

Only some individuals possess empathetic tendencies innately. Fortunately, empathy can also be a learned trait. Below, discover how compassionate leadership is a strength, learn about some of the most renowned companies with empathetic leaders and practice how to cultivate empathy for yourself.

In today's evolving business landscape, the fusion of efficiency and empathy is no longer an option, but a necessity. Genesys and AWS in association with YourStory, hosted a roundtable discussion where industry experts delved into the profound impact of this balance on Customer Experience (CX).

The discussion explored the convergence of efficiency and empathy within CX and how it is shaping a new world for businesses, customers, and society at large.

Panellists dived deep into the crucial role that personalisation plays in striking this balance, the power of feedback loops for continuous improvement, and the contributions of organisational leadership to successful CX initiatives.  From answering questions like ‘What does empathy mean, the difficulties of balancing empathy and efficiency, and ways in which organisations can ensure customers' needs are seamlessly met, the discussion also touched upon more sensitive aspects like creating empathetic experiences and holding leadership accountable for an empathetic approach.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks empathy is an important business skill, not just a soft skill.

Nadella spoke about empathy's role in his own life at Axel Springer's annual award ceremony Tuesday.

Studies show that empathy is one of the most important leadership skills.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks that empathy is more than just a soft skill — it's crucial in both personal and professional life.

Use empathy to connect with your customers
Cydni Rogers Tetro, CEO of Brandless—an expanding online retailer focusing on wellness—envisions a unique approach to retail. “We’re making people the platform for commerce and connection,” she says. 

Brandless places significant emphasis on the customer experience to fuel its growth. When examining their catalog, it becomes evident what the brand intends to convey through its product lines: “[We] bring together healthier life products and brands into a platform of trust and authenticity where people can share the products they love with their circles. Customer empathy and empowerment are essential components of our growth and future,” Tetro says.

by Mary Gregory

Empathy is the core skill for genuinely understanding where people are coming from and dissolving resistance, making change management smoother. Read on to explore why empathy is an absolute must and for tips on cultivating this heart-centered skill as part of your leadership.

The Role Empathy Can Play

• Building Trust: Empathy supports trust building by demonstrating that you are in tune with your team and understand their feelings and concerns.

• Empowering Communication: 

• Increasing Motivation: 

• Creative Problem-Solving:

• Conflict Resolution: Empathy suspends "right and wrong." The intention is to understand and appreciate different perspectives, seek common ground, resolve conflict and ensure a more harmonious change process.

Empathetic workplaces are stronger and more financially successful, explains Stanford professor 

Katharine Manning

An empathetic workplace is one that accepts that humans work here, and does its best to create an environment where they can thrive. Even on bad days, even during upheaval, even when the world is on fire.

The world has been on fire quite a lot lately.

If we expect people to act like output production machines that are unaffected by the fires around them, we will fail. But if we endeavor to recognize what is actually happening with our workforce, and to give them support when they need it, well. That’s how you build an army. That’s how you create the kind of resilience, trust, and respect that will keep that army cohesive and striving. Even when it’s hard. Even through the mud and fire and chaos.

Empathy and other skills positively impact improvement processes by helping to foster trust, increase engagement across the community and, ultimately, create long-lasting outcomes centered on what really matters.

In this video, you will discover how to use human-centered design to understand how people interact with and are impacted by the systems within which we exist. The video emphasizes the values of inclusion and empathy as they allow us to see and learn from other perspectives. You will also deepen your understanding of how to see systems as a whole and be able to recognize which people and groups must be included in learning and decision making to create a more inclusive and collaborative culture.

Client empathy training is a foundational component of a client-centered organization. It is rooted in the human desire to connect to other people meaningfully. Empathy training aims to help partners, associates, and staff understand the value of empathy and how to see results from developing empathy skills in their interaction with clients and colleagues. We call this a shared experience. It’s where everyone in the firm learns how to make positive and memorable client experiences the norm.