As leaders, soft skills are the most vital skills needed in growing your business. Show true concern and care for your team and you will be amazed that you are on a fast lane to great success. This single trait stands you out to get real results.
Why is empathy needed now more than ever?
Empathy always helps to foster unity, builds loyalty, and goodwill in the long run and this amounts to sustainable business growth with employees who are totally committed to the organizational goals and objectives.
This is actually the best time for leaders to practice emphatic leadership in view of the health crisis that recently rocked and is still rocking the world. People have been through a lot emotionally and psychologically and need to be understood and heard.
Do not forget these 3 reasons empathy leadership is needed:
You are sure of sustainable cash flow:
If your level of empathy with your stakeholders(external) is high, then you can easily provide efficient service because you truly understand their pain points every time. This ensures that whatever products or services you are rendering will always resonate with their needs. This creates a positive brand image for your organization which increasing Word of Mouth referrals which in itself is brand advocacy.
The fact is once you have their support, your business will always grow in good and bad times And this leads to the second reason which is
Active listening creates sweet connection spots:
As a rule of thumb, it is easier for people to hear than listen. Just like it is mandatory for Salespersons to listen to their prospects, so it is mandatory for business leaders to truly listen to their internal and external stakeholders. Active listening helps you hear what they may not have said and because you are truly sensitive, you are able to come up with favorable policies, products, and services that can grow your organization by pivoting in the right direction.
Give an opportunity or platform for your stakeholders to truly talk to you while you slow down mentally to truly listen to them. This creates a connection and possibly the start of a deeper relationship. Relationships are the fuel on which businesses are run.
Organizations are made of real people with real needs:
More often than not, employees resign not because of the organization but because of their line managers. Well, it is the same for organizations and their customers. A bad experience may just dovetail into a negative word of mouth. You must understand that your stakeholders (Internal and external) are not an inanimate entity but they are real people with real feelings, emotions, and experiences.
Having a transparent and open communication with them, understanding what they need to get the job done, understanding at least a little of their problems outside the office is key. This is actually what keeps the relationship going while empowering them psychologically and emotionally to deliver. At this point, they work with their heart and hands and not just their heads.
