Empathy in practice: 3 tips for managers

The ability to empathise with others is one of the key traits of a successful leader. At the same time, a good manager must also be able to express empathy in everyday situations and in standard communication with their subordinates. Here are three tips on how to put empathy into practice and express it towards your subordinates.

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These tips were published by TED Ideas.

Tip 1: Help your employees selflessly

One of the best ways to show you are able to empathise with your employees and see things through their eyes is helping them when they are overwhelmed. And best of all is sometimes to help them in a selfless manner, which means helping them not because of the team's results (and therefore also your own results) being in jeopardy, but simply because you see that the employee could do with some assistance.

Tip 2: Show you have noticed the employee is going through a bad period

If you see a subordinate employee is going through a rough patch, stressed out or suffering from a lack of sleep, tell them in a private and discreet manner that you have noticed, and offer your help. Many managers do not want to interfere in the private lives of their subordinates, but if you see someone is fretting about something, offer assistance and it is then purely up to them how much they want to tell you and whether they will take up your offer of help.

Tip 3: Share something from your own personal feelings

Good interpersonal relationships must always be mutual. You will best show empathy by sharing something, in an appropriate manner, with individual employees. For instance, if someone is dealing with a certain problem or going through a rough period, share with them how you yourself experienced the same thing, and offer your opinion or help. You will thus cement your mutual relationship and show you are interested in what your employees are facing.

 

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