Foster empathy in interactions, yet guide with kindness.
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In the face of continuous stress and uncertainty, the role of leadership teams has never been more crucial. As highlighted in the article "Perseverance of Resilient Leadership" published by Deloitte, the current job of leadership is to sustain their people and organizations through these tough times.
However, empathy alone may not always lead to the greater good. As mentioned in the HBR article "Connect with Empathy, But Lead with Compassion," published in December 2021 by Rasmus Hougaard, Jacqueline Carter, and Marissa Afton, empathy is the capacity to understand and share the feelings of others, while compassion goes further by involving an active intention and effort to help, support, or alleviate those feelings.
Empathetic leadership helps leaders connect with their team by recognizing and genuinely understanding employees’ emotions and situations, fostering trust, safety, and belonging. It involves active listening, flexibility, and being fully present to emotional needs without merely focusing on outcomes.
Compassionate leadership, on the other hand, is a stronger, action-oriented step beyond empathy. It encompasses tuning in to emotions but also requires leaders to translate this awareness into supportive and sometimes difficult but necessary actions. Compassion involves creating conditions where people feel truly supported and empowered, even if it means hard conversations or course corrections—all rooted in care and trust.
By building from empathy’s perspective-taking toward compassion’s proactive support, leaders can more effectively sustain their team's resilience and engagement during challenging times. Transitioning from empathy to compassion requires leaders to cultivate self-awareness, maintain empathetic listening, and then deliberately act with care and strength to support their teams effectively in tough situations.
In the current epidemic and lockdown, the challenges faced by employees and managers have been immense. It is essential for leaders to understand the difference between empathy and compassion, as leading with compassion allows them to support their teams better during difficult times.
The article "Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness," published in MITSMR, further emphasizes the importance of compassionate leadership. The leaders have been taking on a significant emotional burden during these times, and it is crucial for them to manage their own emotions first to be able to support others effectively.
Moreover, as discussed in the HBR article, the leaders need to prepare a training and development program focused on multi-disciplinary development for high-potential employees. This program could help these employees navigate the challenges of the current times and fulfill their potential.
In conclusion, compassionate leadership is about feeling motivated to act on understanding to provide support or improvement. It is about creating conditions where people feel truly supported and empowered, even in the face of adversity. By leading with compassion, leaders can build trust, improve well-being, and sustain their teams during challenging times.
- In the realm of health-and-wellness, compassionate leadership can significantly improve employees' mental health by fostering an environment where they feel truly supported and empowered.
- To excel in business and careers, it is crucial for leaders to deepen their understanding of science and finance, as these disciplines provide essential knowledge for strategic decision-making and growth.
- By implementing a leadership development program that focuses on mental-health awareness, empathy training, and multi-disciplinary skill-building, leaders can cultivate a more resilient and productive workforce, ultimately ameliorating the overall well-being of their organizations.
