November 14, 2023

I’ve never really heard anyone talk about empathy in the workplace. Afterall, empathy is a very vulnerable thing to practice, which is why it’s so hard to come by. 

I say empathy is vulnerable because it connects people. In order to connect with someone, or empathize with them, we must be willing to find that same feeling within ourselves. That’s not something that’s very comfortable, convenient, or efficient. So why should it fit in the workplace?

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business landscape, empathy has emerged as a crucial factor in creating a positive and productive workplace environment. As businesses evolve and adapt, the focus on employee well-being and collaboration has never been more important. 

At the heart of this evolution lies the power of empathy: the ability to understand and share in the feelings of others. It’s the ability to understand the perspective of another person and see their perspective as their truth. 

Empathy is free of judgment. It doesn’t demand an explanation or require a response. It’s simply the ability to feel with people. 

In this blog, we’ll dive into the significance of empathy in the workplace, its benefits, and how it contributes to the growth of both individuals and organizations.

A Little Background

Being an empath is something that I’ve struggled with for a large part of my life. It’s something that comes naturally to me (I’m a very emotional human), but it was hard for me to understand the positive side of it. 

Empathy felt like my kryptonite—it made me a weak person. I ached with others through loss; I listened to issues or circumstances and was moved to do something about them; I made time for others even when it wasn’t convenient and I knew it wouldn’t always be reciprocated.

This quality seemed useless, and I always felt misunderstood because of it. I wanted it to go away. But as time has gone on (and through maturity and therapy), I’ve come to understand that there’s both a healthy and unhealthy side to empathy, just like anything else. And it’s not actually a burden; it’s a gift that’s incredibly rare.

Because I’m such a feeler, I convinced myself that I didn’t belong in the workplace. The workplace tends to leave out the emotional side of things—it’s strictly business. It’s sink or swim and only the harsh and cold people make it. I believed that because it’s what I witnessed. Many of us have.

So I avoided the workplace and made my own. For many years I was a solo-prenuer— doing corporate work my own way. The time eventually came that I needed to step into the workplace. So I promised myself I’d approach things differently, and I did. In any position I’ve been in, empathy has been at the forefront of my actions.  

Why Empathy Matters in the Workplace

Empathy serves as the cornerstone of effective communication and collaboration within teams. In an environment where diversity in thought, background, and experiences are common, the skill of empathetic understanding becomes paramount. When we have the ability to understand our colleagues’ perspectives, we can bridge gaps in communication and foster an atmosphere of mutual respect. 

I’ve seen the way it can transform an environment—how it turned co-workers into best friends, solved operations issues, created new departments, expanded the organization, increased sales, and led clients to (happy) tears during presentations.

Benefits of Empathy in the Workplace

• Increased Employee Engagement: When employees feel that their emotions and concerns are acknowledged, they become more engaged in their work. Empathy from leaders and colleagues fosters a sense of belonging and motivates employees to give their best.

• Better Communication: Empathy promotes active listening and the willingness to understand others’ viewpoints. This, in turn, minimizes misunderstandings, increases clarity, and ensures that ideas are comprehensively communicated.

• Conflict Resolution: Conflicts are inevitable in any workplace. However, an empathetic approach can de-escalate tense situations by addressing underlying emotions and concerns. This leads to more effective and lasting solutions.

• Collaboration and Innovation: Empathy encourages open collaboration, where team members value each other’s contributions and perspectives. Diverse viewpoints often lead to more creative problem-solving and innovative ideas.

• Enhanced Leadership: Leaders who practice empathy are more approachable and relatable. Their ability to understand the needs and aspirations of their team members enables them to guide and mentor effectively.

Improving Mental Health with Empathy in the Workplace

All of these benefits from implementing empathy are factors that contribute to better mental health. This report from Harvard Business Review that focuses on mental health for healthcare workers, they reported that “Employees who felt caring from colleagues had less emotional exhaustion.” 

For healthcare workers, those improvements even “flowed to patients, who reported more-positive moods, improved quality of life, better health outcomes, and fewer trips to the emergency room. Families [of patients] reported greater satisfaction and willingness to recommend [the healthcare facility].”

We know mental health issues in adults have been on the uprise since 2020. In fact, 58% of employees say that their job is the main source of their mental health issues. It’s no wonder those numbers are so high—we spend at least 40 hours every week in this world of work. If empathy can do that much for employees in healthcare, imagine what it can do for workplaces in your field.

All of the benefits have one core thing in common: a healthy work culture. These small benefits actually mean that the work people produce is higher quality, the environment is more positive, your team is healthy, and, at the end of the day, the work you do has a purpose that goes beyond a paycheck. It can transform people’s lives.

Cultivating Empathy in the Workplace

Understanding the impact of empathy is one thing, but it’s important for us to take small steps to practice it more. Here’s a few ways we can do that:

• Leading by Example: Managers and leaders should set the tone by demonstrating empathetic behavior. When employees see their superiors practicing empathy, they are more likely to follow suit.

• Training and Development: Incorporate empathy-building workshops and training into your professional development programs. These sessions can help employees enhance their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.

• Active Listening: Encourage active listening by emphasizing its importance during meetings and interactions. Listening attentively fosters deeper connections and understanding, and it shows that you’re present and care about what others are saying.

• Creating Safe Spaces: Establish an environment where employees feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and emotions without fear of judgment. This promotes honesty and openness which brings us back to enhancing communication.

• Participating in Feedback Culture: Constructive feedback should be delivered with empathy. This is the biggest factor that is missing in so many leaders, and it comes as a detriment to their team. Giving honest feedback that points out what is done well and what needs improvement helps employees recognize areas for improvement without feeling demotivated or defeated.

• Showing Appreciation: Regularly acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and achievements of your team members. Recognizing their hard work and contributions fosters a sense of value and reinforces a culture of empathy.

Empathy is a key component of emotional intelligence; the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s own emotions while also understanding the emotions of others. Emotional intelligence allows individuals to navigate complex workplace dynamics with finesse, leading to better conflict resolution, improved teamwork, and enhanced leadership skills. And it fosters connection. 

Connection with others leads to better communication, collaboration, higher satisfaction, and it minimizes stress. All of these create a healthy work environment that will ultimately lead to producing better work and productivity. Most importantly, it lets people know they’re valued; which has a bigger impact than any work that your organization can produce.

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Interested in working on a team that puts empathy into practice in the workplace? Check out our careers page for opportunities.