What makes us happy at work? Money, Trust, Relationship, Feeling Achieved, or Proof of value? It is a question that we all ask ourselves. Years ago, I wanted to become an investment banker after graduation, to me, money was most important at the time. And this mindset changed over the years, and I find working with a leader who cares about the employees is truly appreciated. Mental health has become a common topic; under the stress of family, work, and the impact of pandemic, we all need to find the right spot to grow personally and professionally.
Positive energy attracts positive energy, keeping the positive vibes and spreading is a big part of empathy.
Inspired by one of my interns, who always brings a lot of positive energy. Every time she joins a group meeting, her voice, motivation, and positive energy are contagious and impact everyone around her. Although her was an intern, her energy influences all the seniors around her, and her cheerful energy changes the tone of many meetings.
We knew demonstrating empathy is positive for people, but new research demonstrates its importance for everything from innovation to retention. Great leadership requires a fine mix of all kinds of skills to create the conditions for engagement, happiness and performance, and empathy tops the list of what leaders must get right.
Stress should be a powerful driving force, not an obstacle.
According to the article by Dr. Tracy Brower, the reason empathy is so necessary is that people are experiencing multiple kinds of stress, and data suggests it is affected by the pandemic — and the ways our lives and our work have been turned upside down.
· Mental Health. A global study by Qualtrics found 42% of people have experienced a decline in mental health. Specifically, 67% of people are experiencing increases in stress while 57% have increased anxiety, and 54% are emotionally exhausted. 53% of people are sad, 50% are irritable, 28% are having trouble concentrating, 20% are taking longer to finish tasks, 15% are having trouble thinking and 12% are challenged to juggle their responsibilities.
· Personal Lives. A study in Occupational Health Science found our sleep is compromised when we feel stressed at work. Research at the University of Illinois found when employees receive rude emails at work, they tend to experience negativity and spillover into their personal lives and particularly with their partners.
· Performance, Turnover and Customer Experience. A study published in the Academy of Management Journal found when people are on the receiving end of rudeness at work, their performance suffers and they are less likely to help others.
Empathy Contributes to Positive Outcomes
But as we go through tough times, struggle with burnout or find it challenging to find happiness at work, empathy can be a powerful antidote and contribute to positive experiences for individuals and teams. A new study of 889 employees by Catalyst found empathy has some significant constructive effects:
· Innovation. When people reported their leaders were empathetic, they were more likely to report they were able to be innovative — 61% of employees compared to only 13% of employees with less empathetic leaders.
· Engagement. 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged compared with only 32% who experienced less empathy.
· Retention. 57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies. However, when they didn’t feel that level of value or respect for their life circumstances, only 14% and 30% of white women and women of color respectively said they were unlikely to consider leaving.
· Inclusivity. 50% of people with empathetic leaders reported their workplace was inclusive, compared with only 17% of those with less empathetic leadership.
· Work-Life. When people felt their leaders were more empathetic, 86% reported they are able to navigate the demands of their work and life — successfully juggling their personal, family and work obligations. This is compared with 60% of those who perceived less empathy. Cooperation is also a factor. According to a study published in Evolutionary Biology, when empathy was introduced into decision making, it increased cooperation and even caused people to be more empathetic. Empathy fostered more empathy.
Empathy contributes to positive relationships and organizational cultures and it also drives results.
Empathy may not be a brand new skill, but it has a new level of importance and the fresh research makes it especially clear how empathy is the leadership competency to develop and demonstrate now and in the future of work.