Successful managers are often portrayed as authoritarians who process information fast, have an unbending will, and make demands.

This style of management is not encouraged.

I say this because it’s the business and their employees who suffer. Employees under this management style endure stress, intimidation, and determent with the connotation that they’re alone.

These managers lack empathy; something that requires listening, openness, and understanding.

“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
-Theodore Roosevelt

At its core, leadership is ultimately about others. To lead them in a direction that is compelling and inspiring. Of which, empathy is the foundation of those actions.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
– Leo Buscaglia

Rather than the employees feeling discouraged, they feel encouraged.

Instead of feeling disrespected, they feel respected.

They feel connected instead of disconnected.

The list goes on and on.

When a leader lacks empathy, others approach with their guards up and look after their own interests. With an empathetic leader, everyone knows that they can be open about what they are thinking and feeling without being judged, dismissed or ignored.

Ultimately, empathy benefits everyone involved.