The Leadership Skill Most Leaders Overlook – Even As Technology Changes Everything

Over the past decade, various technological advancements have dramatically changed today’s workplaces. We went from companies banning smartphones in the workplace, to trying to entice potential hires with “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policies, ideas that would seem absurd to suggest as a potential workplace perk.

While it’s hard to know for sure what workplace transformations leaders will have to address over the next 10 years, there’s one element that leaders must master if they are to succeed in their leadership – how to connect and build relationships with those they lead.

What Google’s Research Tells Us About High-Performing Teams

Google’s famous Project Aristotle provided irrefutable evidence that the best teams are those that operate within an environment of psychological safety – where employees felt safe to not only share their ideas and concerns, but to challenge established ways of thinking and the status quo.

But just as you can’t tell simply tell people to come to the office “to collaborate”, you can’t simply tell employees you’re offering them a psychologically safe workplace environment. You have to show them that it in fact exists.

What Empathy in Leadership Actually Means (And What It Doesn’t)

And this is where bringing more empathy into your leadership comes into action. Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of misunderstandings lately about what empathy is, leading to many to not only question the need for empathy, but to argue it’s dangerous and even toxic.

As I teach leaders through my workshops on empathy and leadership, when we talk about empathy in the context of our leadership we’re simply talking about making efforts to ensure our employees feel heard and understood. That doesn’t mean we have to agree with their perspective or that we’re now obligated to do something.

How Empathy Creates the Psychological Safety Your Team Needs to Thrive

Rather, empathy is the key to creating those psychologically safe workplace environments where employees are compelled to bring their best selves to the work they do – their talents, creativity, and insights that can fuel our journey to fulfilling our shared purpose.

It’s about being intentional to show genuine concern for those you lead – that we appreciate that connecting with others means understanding what works for them, what are their needs you have to address to ensure they can succeed in achieving their assigned goals.

The Small Gestures That Signal You See, Hear, and Value Your Team

The best part is that it means we don’t have to commit to large-scale efforts, but small everyday gestures that let your employees know you see, hear, and value them, not just for their contributions, but for who they are as people.

As technology continues to disrupt the way we work, the ability to truly connect and inspire people to deliver their best will become more critical to your ability to succeed at leadership.

And empathy is the powerful key in your leadership toolkit that will help ensure your collective success.