Change and Empathy

Empathy is even more critical in our working world today than it was before the pandemic. Think of the many challenges we’ve faced since March of 2020 where working with someone who understood how you were feeling helped you face that challenge. They showed you empathy and that made a difference.

Changes are continuing at a rapid pace, and what is evident is that leaders must be more empathetic now than they certainly were before the pandemic, but perhaps even more than they were during the pandemic.

Many leaders say they are afraid to show empathy for fear of losing the respect of their employees. The opposite is true. Others have been comfortable showing empathy in an informal way, but they are now finding the pandemic has made us more conscious and vocal about issues where empathy really matters.

Look at the issues we’re now discussing. Workplace flexibility and considering how decisions of where work is performed have a major impact on our employees’ lives. We’re examining mental health issues and recognizing they require an empathetic approach. We’re focused on DEI in a new way, especially where empathy plays a big part.

Something else has happened. As Peter Cappelli wrote for Human Resources Executive, management changed. In some cases, managers were pushed to check in with employees and have serious conversations about how work was going. 

Where do we start?  Start by listening to your employees and focusing on the issues you hear before you start coming up with solutions. What seems perfectly logical to you may not begin to provide what your staff needs. Don’t just ask employees how the work is going, ask employees how they are doing. Ask about their overall well-being.

 Once you’re clear on what your employees need from you and your organization, carefully consider what you can reasonably do. Yes, some of what is being asked of you may be impossible, but at least consider it.  If you can’t accommodate the request, let the employee know the business reason why.

 Adversities have a way of bringing people together. We’ve faced difficult times together and, in most cases, come out stronger—as individuals and as organizations. We don’t want to lose this togetherness. Treating your people with empathy goes a long way toward building relationships that will make a difference as we face the challenges of today and beyond.

 As Rohit Thakur, CHRO of Paytm, a major company in India said, “It is empathy that helped us understand and address the needs of our colleagues and simultaneously stay on the growth track. In the post-Covid world, it will be more important than ever to have the same level of empathy.”

 Let’s treat each other with empathy and we will continue to thrive.