Entrepreneurial investor Chris Sacca is quoted as saying, “Empathy isn’t just good for life, it’s good for business. As a builder, as an entrepreneur, how can you create something for someone else if you don’t have even enough glancing familiarity with them to imagine the world through their eyes?”
Sacca is referring to the leadership quality of empathy, which is a foundational trait in emotional intelligence. The ability to see things through others’ eyes is critical in developing relationships of all kinds and for helping others get through tough times. As a leader, there will be many times when a member of your team will fall short of the team objectives, and instead of being hammered by you, it will be important that you show empathy and let them know that you fully understand what they are going through. This doesn’t mean that you lower your standards or compromise your values, but it does mean that you come alongside them, person to person, and help them grow, learn, and keep their dignity. All too often leaders spend their relational capital by acting as if they had never failed and making their followers feel devalued. Empathy shows your team that you care and that you are human. Empathy shows that you are people focused, rather than merely task focused. Empathy allows you to add value to the person and add to your relational balance sheet.
As you lead today, intentionally see things through the eyes of others. Just imagine how much better our families, organizations, and community would get along if we were to show empathy to each other.
Lead well.