Empathic leadership: promoting teamwork

At the present time of work, a new type of figure is being sought and developed to form groups in teamwork: the empathetic leader. This new role has a lot to do with a generational change, with a more open mentality towards workers, thus breaking with the traditional scheme of the authoritarian boss.

The same concept includes a human quality: empathy. empathic leadership It is that leadership whose way of fitting into a group of individuals is based on the connection between people and the human and close treatment. Understanding others and enhancing their feelings within the group becomes a necessity.

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Defining Empathic Leadership

There is fierce competition in the job market. In the labor market looking for added value, an extra plus that can make a difference compared to the rest. In other words, companies no longer seek only professional or academic knowledge. Large or small firms look for that pedagogical and emotional characteristic in a candidate who is going to lead the staff.

Thus, empathic leadership seeks to be based on a deeper understanding of each member of a team. Know their abilities, their virtues, their defects, their communication, cooperation and integration capacities. The ultimate goal of this technique is to enhance work performance and involve all members of the group.

leader vs. Boss

It is worth noting the differences between “the boss” and “the leader”. The first holds a hierarchical position within a company. This is someone who is expressly dedicated to distributing guidelines and transmitting orders in different tasks, without much room to discern or show opposition to what is ordered.

The leader, however, earns sympathy, his own subordinates transfer that power, that legitimacy. The difference between both profiles is a matter of attitude. Empathic leadership is built on trust and mutual respect. between worker and superior.

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Characteristics of the empathic leader

Empathic leadership is not limited solely to empathy as the defining model. It responds to a series of bases and qualities that are much deeper than the personal attitude.

Specifically, these are the 7 pillars of empathic leadership:

1. Modesty

This is the basic principle of this type of leadership. Arrogance, arrogance or denigration are antagonistic concepts to empathy. A good leader should treat all members with respect and simply without compromising their dignity.

2. Flexibility

This translates directly into a lack of unjustified rigidity, without forgetting that the last word in decision-making continues to be with the leader. Often authority is lost if this detail is not taken care of well.

3. Passion

The figure of the leader must show at all times an active attitude and energy. He has to transmit these values ​​to the rest of the group, so that they all row in the same direction.

4. Values

In many of the companies and groups there is this lack when it comes to transmitting certain values. Corporatism is very important in the development of a business, and leadership must set an example and reinforce the principles of the company.

5. Knowledge

The leader, more than anyone, has to demonstrate absolute knowledge of the subject matter. This is the added value that respect for the other members of the team will entail. It is of paramount importance to justify leadership on own merits and aptitude.

6. Trust

Another of the last elements to demonstrate good leadership. The person in charge of the group must show confidence in the abilities of the other members, and ask them how to do or undo.

7. Learning

As much as knowledge is a quality of any candidate to lead or captain a certain group, extra learning never hurts. Above all, learn from the same members of the group, there must be feedback from both parties and a good leader needs to listen to others to grow professionally.

Why does this phenomenon appear?

All this responds to a generational evolution in all aspects. Sociology has been in charge of demonstrating that we are heading towards a more collectivist, less hierarchical society and in which consensus is more valued.

In this way, this has also been transferred and applied in the business field. The times of our parents were different. Decades ago the boss was the highest authority, regardless of the needs of each of the workers. This already archaic way of leading a group of people was often discussed.

Empathic leadership arises from a need to improve productive performance combined with a change of values ​​at the social level. It is necessary to give a personal and individual value to each of the individuals that are part of a group.

Thus, numerous studies and reports have highlighted the effectiveness and productivity of implementing a leadership model. empathetic, being the only one who can respond to the different needs and concerns to increase well-being group.

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