Why Is Empathy Important to Company Culture?

Being a good leader in the workplace requires prioritizing many critical social skills and characteristics to foster a safe and professional environment. Communication, intellectual honesty, open-mindedness, and self-awareness are essential when collaborating with colleagues and leading professional projects. While these characteristics are important, various studies support the ranking of empathy among vital leadership skills. A leader's proficiency in this skill is one of the deciding factors between a positive and negative professional environment.

What is empathy?

Empathy is an essential social skill that involves familiarizing yourself with the emotional state of others and actively trying to understand someone’s situation. Building empathy encourages stronger relationships and results in more helpful and compassionate behavior. Being empathetic can include feeling sensitivity to the emotions of others, being concerned for the health of another, or imagining the circumstances of someone’s situation.  

It is important to note that the word “empathy” is quite different from the word “sympathy,” even though many use the terms interchangeably. Sympathy involves feeling pity for someone’s situation, whereas empathy encourages an understanding of someone’s situation. Empathy can drive a stronger sense of connection.

Why is empathy important in the workplace?

Acquiring empathy in the workplace can encourage productive group collaboration and improved professional relationships.  Additionally, research suggests that person-based leaders are more successful in leading the direction of a project. When people empathize with coworkers and colleagues, supportive environments are curated in the workplace, leading to higher performance levels.

One study reports that 67 percent of people with empathetic managers consider themselves more engaged at work, compared to 24 percent with less empathetic managers, who report feeling significantly less professionally engaged [1]. Communication dramatically increases with the inclusion of empathy. Together, the duo help support and create a productive work environment. Not only can this skill improve interpersonal relationships, but it can foster better interactions with customers.

Read more: Collaboration in the Workplace: Benefits and Strategies

How to demonstrate empathy in the workplace

An essential part of practicing empathy in the workplace involves paying attention to others' needs. Connecting with coworkers’ challenges and demonstrating compassion when difficulties arise are steps you can take to foster a healthier work environment. Validating the experiences and perspectives of others—even in the midst of a disagreement—is another way to encourage an understanding environment in the workplace.

You can take many simple steps to create an empathetic environment with your coworkers and colleagues.

Make eye contact and observe body language.

Misunderstandings commonly occur when one or both parties in a conversation need more attentiveness. By making eye contact during meaningful conversations, you demonstrate to your colleagues that you focus on what they are saying, which builds trust.

Additionally, how a person moves their body during an interaction can tell you much about their comfort level and emotional state. Observing non-verbal cues such as rapid blinking, lip pursing, and eye contact can help you understand when someone is experiencing discomfort, anger, or confidence.  Noticing these signs can prepare you to communicate in a way that is effective in the specific situation.

Watch for burnout in coworkers.

Burnout occurs when work-related stressors result in mental or physical exhaustion in workers. This level of exhaustion can negatively impact an individual’s mental health and general job performance. Someone may be experiencing burnout if they overwork to the point of an unhealthy work-life balance and consequently disregard their personal well-being. Checking in on your coworkers and employees when you notice signs of work-related exhaustion creates a culture of care and support in the workplace. When workers appear to be heading toward burnout, take steps to lessen their workload or consider adjusting their schedules.

Demonstrate that you care about your colleagues’ needs.

You can show care in the workplace through a variety of gestures. One crucial part of being an empathetic leader is paying attention to the individual goals of your employees and coworkers. It can involve creating targeted opportunities that align with personal career goals. Another way to show care is by offering help when someone is struggling, such as providing emotional or physical assistance with a task. Even if your colleague declines the offer, this empathetic gesture demonstrates care.  It is also helpful to establish a respectful interest in the personal lives of your colleagues or coworkers, showing others that you value them both inside and outside the workplace.

Include empathy in your vision statement.

A vision statement is a company’s declaration of its long-term goals and values. It is a way for companies to promote their mission and advertise their business principles. Adding empathy to this statement allows coworkers and employers to have a transparent relationship with the company. Creating such a relationship through directness empowers employees from the beginning. A vision statement can inspire your colleagues, especially if it includes their best interests. 

Next steps

Empathy is an essential ingredient in fostering a supportive work environment. Although some people may find it easier than others, studies have shown that empathy is a skill that people learn and develop over time. Practicing active listening, which involves being present and engaged in conversations, can help you develop this skill. Likewise, focusing on the experiences of others allows for a deeper connection between individuals and creates an atmosphere of respect and understanding.

If you would like to improve your empathetic leadership, consider looking into courses that assist in building empathy skills. For example, Salesforce and SV Academy offer a Practical Guide to Navigating Professional Relationships on Coursera to help you develop and improve professional relationships through a person-based approach. You can also look into courses specializing in general emotional intelligence, such as Emotional Intelligence: Cultivating Immensely Human Interactions, provided by the University of Michigan, which teaches interpersonal skills as a path to empathetic leadership.