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The Power of Empathic Leadership for Building High Performance Teams

In a previous post, we explored the limitations and psychological harm caused by toxic environments,empathic leadership microaggression, and other leadership pitfalls. On the other hand, empathic leadership is regarded by many as the most important instrument in a leader’s toolbox.

Still, while harnessing the breadth and depth of your own sense of empathy, you also need to learn how to regulate your own emotions, how to be with yourself and your team in times of stress and/or conflict, and how to stand up for yourself and your ideas in an assertive way. In other words, the power of empathy strongly relies on your confidence and well balanced self-regard, emotion regulation ability, and assertiveness.

These are not simple concepts. They require introspection, assertiveness, and a high degree of self-confidence if you hope to develop the skillset needed to lead a team that excels. They are also the key to taking the lead and cleaning up the mess that non-empathic leaders have created in this world. A well balanced empathy ensures your sustainable growth throughout life, while the lack of this balance leads to overwhelm, burnout, feeling of resentment and… lower income.

That being said… Empathic and impact-driven leaders often earn less due to several factors:

  • They do not engage in self-promotion and self-branding and think that working hard is a way to go to get a promotion- which it is not
  • They do not advocate for themselves and do not ask for the promotion or increase in pay
  • At times, they honestly do not think too much about money because they are not money-driven, they are impact-driven. They take on a lot and then go underpaid, overworked, they get sick and go into a downward spiral of resentment, hopelessness, and helplessness
  • They need confidence and assertive communication to be able to negotiate with not so much empathic people who often have power
  • They get stuck in one workplace for too long, even if it is a toxic workplace

Despite these limits, we know that empathic leaders are capable of creating safe and supportive environments for themselves and their teams, where all of you thrive.  However, you need well-balanced self-perception, self-expression, decision-making, and stress management skills to be able to achieve results and demonstrate high performance in the most high-paced environments.

Be Empathetic to Your Own Needs… As well as those of your team

So, what is the solution to these limitations and pitfalls? You must learn to employ your sense of empathy on your own behalf; to be as empathetic toward your own wants, needs, and goals as you are toward the needs and goals of other people.

You need to learn the best ways to:

  • Lead your team from the place or well-being, not survival
  • Be empathetic while staying grounded
  • Show up as a confident and assertive leader in your workplace, business, and other areas of life
  • Receive the appreciation and acknowledgment that you deserve
  • Stay focused and grounded in the face of adversity and conflict
  • Navigate fast-paced environments with ease and authenticity
  • Boost your problem-solving skills and apply them to the problems worth solving for your team

How can you best achieve these goals?

  • Follow your heart, pursue your mission, and inspire others
  • Establish clear priorities and formulate a plan that will take your life where you want it to go
  • Reboot your life and enter into a new phase of your journey with dignity and certainty

With time, and with a conscious, mindful mindset, these no longer come from outside – such as from coaching. Instead, they become an essential part of your identity as an empathic leader. This is a place of power and clarity that exists within you and, when you reconnect with it over and over again, it grows and become easily accessible even in the most stressful, challenging situations.

This then, is how you can begin to put the power of empathic leadership to work for you to maximize your efforts in building high performance teams. If you decide you would like some help with this transformational process, feel free to contact me to schedule your FREE Discovery Call.