Three Easy Ways to Show Empathy as a Leader
Leading a team of young people is unbelievably fun, but it has its quirks. When you get 50 people together on a team, you still have to treat them as individuals and listen to their needs.
Most of the people I lead are from different generations. They call out sick with a variety of ailments, most of which I don’t understand. (Calling out is a bit weird to me. What do you mean you can’t come in?)
There is no way in hell I would’ve called out of a job when I was a teenager because I had anxiety. No way. Not a chance. But, we are living in totally different times. I roll with it.
I’ve been leading teams for 20 years so I’ve heard it all.
When people call out, I sometimes don’t get it. But here’s the thing — it doesn’t matter if I understand or not. What matters is that I show them empathy.
Empathy is more important than understanding. It doesn’t matter if you don’t understand. It’s not about you. I want to give my team what was rarely given to me in my career — empathy.
It’s so easy to be a bright spot in someone’s very overwhelming day. Here are three easy things you can do now.
Tell Them to Feel Better
No one wants to do a bad job. Most people have major fears about calling out sick, so don’t make it worse for them. Too often, I hear leaders interrogating the person calling out or trying to force them to get someone to cover the shift. That’s terrible.
It doesn’t matter if they are lying, by the way. My staff lies to me all the time, I’m sure. They weren’t sick, they were hungover. Maybe they had to catch up on homework. Whatever. On the off chance they are sick, I want to be empathetic.
What do you want to hear when you feel awful? You want someone to tell you to feel better and then leave you alone so you can go to sleep. That’s it.
That’s all they owe you, by the way — a phone call that they are sick. Their part of this equation is over. You have to cover their shift. That’s your job. I know, it sucks. Do your best to cover it and don’t take it out on the people that are currently working. Don’t talk bad about the sick person, either.
Grant Time Off
Grant time off freely. Be excited for people that are getting away. It is super important. Don’t hold it against them because you haven’t planned to get away yourself. That’s not their problem, it’s yours.
Encourage people to take vacations. They will come back refreshed and more productive. They will be able to handle all the daily bullshit with ease. They will be in a good mood and can help you do your job.
It’s just great all the way around. It makes everyone’s job easier when people around them are happy and refreshed.
Leaders also need to take time off — not only to reset but to show their teams that taking time off should be a priority.
Leave on time. Get away.
Why would anyone want to move up the company ladder if they see their boss at work 24/7? They won’t want to. If there is no work-life balance, it’s not worth it. The more hours you put in without rest will make you a crazy person that no one wants to be around.
Trust me, I’ve seen it.
Lend a Hand
When I am done with all that I have to do in a day, I ask people what they need help with.
The other day I folded sweatshirts down for my Visual Manager. She had moved on to another task because she couldn’t fold anymore. She was burnt. So, I picked up the task and carried it forward.
Could anyone have done this? Yes. So, why me?
Leaders need to lead from the front. Help your team in real-time with what they are working on. Work with them side by side. They will appreciate it, yes, but it gives you a unique glimpse into their day and their workload. It may show you something you hadn’t noticed before.
It’s very easy to dismiss call outs, time off requests, or helping out. It may seem trivial, but it’s huge. These are the small things that add up to your integrity as a leader.
People want to work for someone that shows they are human. They want to work for someone that has a life of their own. You inspire people by being kind. By taking time off. By saying you’re sorry. By folding sweatshirts.
Get out of the office and into the real world with the rest of the team.
All those little things add up and show that you are empathetic towards others. It shows people that you want to understand their role and help them with it.
Understanding is about you. Empathy is about the other person. It doesn’t matter if you understand or not — people want empathetic leaders.
About Kit
Kit Campoy is a former retail professional turned freelance writer. She writes about Leadership, Retail, and Web3. Contact Kit for your content needs.