"Think People, Not Programs"
The Power of Empathetic Leadership

Business owners know instinctively that happy employees are productive employees. When your staff is happy your business experiences less turnover, your employees are more committed to the success of the company. This principle is highlighted in times of crisis, as demonstrated in the "Great Resignation" during the pandemic, when people were forced to prioritize the needs of their home lives over the demands of their jobs.

"Empathy," according to the findings of a recent study by Catalyst is not just something nice to have around the office, it has strategic value because it fosters innovation, engagement, and inclusion in the workplace.

The Catalyst study defines Empathy as "the skill of connecting with others to identify and understand their thoughts, perspectives, and emotions; and demonstrating that understanding with intention, care, and concern" and holds that it is both possible to cultivate empathy in the workplace and that doing so can be linked to many positive effects, including employees who are more innovative and resilient in the face of challenges and crises.

Key findings from the study:

• Empathy is a force for productivity, life-work integration, and positive work experiences.
  Empathy boosts productivity.
  
• Employees with empathic managers and leaders are more innovative and engaged in their work than are employees with less empathic managers and leaders.
  
• Women of color experience less burnout when they have more empathic senior leaders.
  
• Empathic leaders respect employee life circumstances.
  
• Empathic leaders support both life and work needs.
  
• Empathic leaders foster inclusion.
  
• Senior leader empathy is linked to reduced intent to leave.
  

Companies with more empathetic leadership were 40%-60% higher in employee satisfaction and engagement, and 13% less likely to suffer work-related burnout: " In particular, while a high percentage of Arab, Asian, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx women said they were experiencing general workplace burnout, those with highly empathic senior leaders were less likely to report high levels of general workplace burnout (54%) than those with less empathic senior leaders (67%)"

Ultimately, empathetic leadership fosters an inclusive, equitable environment and is a key factor for any organization that prioritizes diversity, equity, and inclusivity.

At the end of the study is a sample of responses from the study's participants on what kinds of things demonstrated empathy for them in both written and face to face communications, as well as actions managers and leaders can take to show empathy with their employees and staff.

Read the full study here