5 Ways To Lead With Empathy

Empathy sounds like one of those touchy-feely words. It’s what those woo-woo leaders do. But it’s not.

Leading with empathy is something every leader should do. It not only endears you to your employees but it forms stronger connections between you, employees, suppliers, and more.

Why wouldn’t you want to lead with empathy?

What Is Empathy?

Some of us may have the wrong idea of empathy. We don’t understand what empathy is or how to use empathy. Let’s get clear about what empathy is.

According to the dictions, empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. That means you, as a leader, can connect with your people on an emotional level. You can share in another person’s grief, stress, anguish, frustration, and more without letting it overcome you. 

Finding Purpose And Meaning In Leadership

As a Christian leader, I believe everyone has a purpose and meaning for their lives. Everyone was created for something special in this world. In Ephesians 2:10, the Bible tells us that we are Christ’s workmanship. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works (purpose). 

You and I… We were not created by accident. We were created for something.

While I believe this purpose and meaning comes from the lives we live, we can find purpose and meaning in the things that we do. Including the organizations and people we lead. There’s a purpose and meaning behind this!

Finding Purpose And Meaning In Leadership

It’s funny that I’m writing this article when I am. The morning I was writing this, I began to take a look back on my leadership and writing journey. I began to think of the people I started this journey with.

Quotes And Leadership Lessons From The Boys In The Boat

A Reel Leadership Article

My latest book, Reel Leadership, is now available on Amazon. If you love movies and leadership, you will love this book.

In 1936, the University of Washington’s Junior Varsity crew team did something amazing. The crew team consisted of Don Hume (Jack Mulhern), Joe Rantz (Callum Turner), George “Shorty” Hunt Bruce Herbelin-Earle), Jim McMillin Wil Coban), John ‘Johnny’ White (Tom Varey), Gordy Adam (Joel Phillimore), Charles ‘Chuck’ Day (Thomas Elms), Roger Morris (Sam Strike), cox Bob ‘Bobby’ Moch (Luke Slattery). They beat varsity teams and then went to the Olympics. From there, they won the Olympic games and took home gold medals for the USA.

These boys, not men, competed in one of the most grueling sports imaginable. Most people don’t even know what crewing is. I only knew what crew was because of the ethical clothing boutique my wife shops at and does a side hustle for. 

The University of Washington Junior Varsity crew team in their boat

Mentoring And Coaching: Developing Future Leaders

An essential part of leadership is training up the next generation of leaders. If you’ve been a part of an organization where a leader left and there was a lack of potential leaders in the organization, you found out how badly the organization suffered. You probably even saw a mass exodus of employees from the organization.

This is a great reason to begin training up future leaders. These are the leaders who will be there when the current generation of leaders are gone. They’ll also be the leaders who head out to other organizations to lead them well.

Mentoring And Coaching: Developing Future Leaders

But what does it take to mentor and coach upcoming leaders? That’s a good question. Another good question is whether mentoring and coaching are the same. Let’s look at that question first.

10 Life-Changing Habits For Personal Development

Our habits can either make us or break us. It’s the habits that we choose that will decide the direction we will go in life.

Og Mandino once said, “Good habits are the key to all success. Bad habits are the unlocked door to failure.” His words ring true to me. They should ring true for you, too.

We will examine 10 life-changing habits that will propel your personal development forward. These habits will change your life, make you a better person, and help you stay sane in an insane world.

10 Life-Changing Habits For Personal Development

1. Read daily:

One of the easiest habits to develop is the habit of reading. Books are a treasure trove of information for leaders. All you have to do is crack open a book.