Being able
to show empathy is a key and important skill. Empathy, the ability to
understand and share the feelings of others, is a crucial skill that enhances
communication, builds stronger relationships, and fosters a sense of
connection. It allows individuals to see situations from different
perspectives, understand the needs of others, and respond with compassion.

Some leaders
naturally show more empathy at work than others and will have an advantage over
their peers who have difficulty expressing empathy. Most leaders fall in the
middle and are sometimes or somewhat empathetic.

Fortunately,
it’s not a fixed trait. Empathetic leadership can be learned. If given enough
time and support, leaders can develop and enhance their empathy skills through
coaching, training, or developmental opportunities and initiatives.

Here
are 28 tips to help:

• Listen
  and don’t interrupt
• Focus
  100% on the other person
• Be
  FULLY present (don’t have your phone nearby)
• Use
  people’s names
• Be
  nice and care
• Do
  not take it in turns to talk
• Put
  yourself in their shoes
• Don’t
  judge
• Acknowledge
  the person’s feelings
• Ask
  questions
• Don’t
  assume
• Ensure
  your body language is spot on
• Don’t
  finish off sentences
• Summarise
  your understanding
• Allow
  the person to rant
• Get
  to know others personally
• Make
  it about them and not you
• Smile
• Park
  your beliefs
• Say
  “Thank you”
• Accept
  feedback
• Accept
  disagreement
• Don’t
  give advice too soon
• Use
  “we” not “me”
• Look
  at it from different angles
• Don’t
  have all the answers
• Be
  open
• Ask how you can help

When
managers hone their empathetic leadership skills, they improve their
effectiveness and increase their chances of success in the job. Empathetic
leaders are assets to organizations, in part because they are able to
effectively build and maintain relationships and retain talent — a critical
part of leading organizations anywhere in the world.