Cultivating Empathy at the workplace
Empathy means having the ability to understand the needs of others and being aware of their feelings and thoughts
It is vital to develop an empathetic atmosphere at the workplace because it simply increases the productivity of the employees. In addition, this is an essential trait that every manager should possess if he wants his team to excel above others. It gives a feeling to the employees that there is someone to listen to their woes. hence, developing the quality to empathise is beneficial at the workplace
Michie (2002), has suggested that for people in many work situations, their jobs and lives may become more manageable and less stressful if they can practice empathy both in their professional environment and in their everyday interactions with those around them.
Forms of expressing the empathy to the followers
1. Develop the ability to listen
It is essential to develop the ability to listen to the followers working around,noted that even by watching the body language of the followers managers must understand their mood and state of mental being.
However, in the post-Covid-19 scenario, Managers might develop this feeling of understanding and sharing the feeling the followers, It is also to be noted that the concept of remote working has brought about feeling of demotivation and low morale among the employees. So, it has become all the more important to develop this feeling of empathy in order to survive in this uncertain and unpredictable work environment
Eg : Zoom call or MS Team video conferencing
2. Questions to be asked
It is vital to ask questions either at the workplace or while working from a remote location. When questions asked then followers gets the feeling the care. This in turn will lead to a conversation between managers and followers disclosing a lot of things both at the personal and professional level which helps to empathise with the team member
3. Understand the feelings
human beings have become more or less like a robot. every one of us has feelings and emotions which when subdued can be extremely harmful for the growth of the individual employee and his organization talk and comprehend the feelings of followers then can truly empathise with them
4. learn to empathise
Constant endeavour towards talking and starting a cordial conversation with followers in order to understand their feelings and emotions
Global Context
United states famous Insurance company have mentioned that “Building an empathetic work culture will help to get one step closer to creating an engaged workforce that cares deeply for one another and is unified around one shared goal” (Kimble, 2020).
XYZ Engineering (Pvt) Ltd
Empathy is an ongoing process but putting it into practice can make the organization a place where people grow, thrive, and love to work, even in the current worst of circumstances.
Conclusion
Do not undervalue the importance of empathy at the workplace, the employees who feel that their voices and concerns are being listened to tend to contribute actively towards the productivity of their organization, employees look forward towards working in a workplace which is compassionate and empathetic towards them.
References
Armstrong, M., 2006. A handbook of human resource management practice. 10th Edition ed. London: Kogan Page.
Hess, J., Strobel, J. & Pan, R., 2016. Voices from the workplace: practitioners’ perspectives on the role of empathy and care within engineering. Engineering Studies, 8(3), pp. 212-242.
Michie, S., 2002. Education: Causes and management of stress at work. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(1), pp. 67-72.
Bergen, A., 2020. Idealist. [Online]
Available at: https://www.idealist.org/en/careers/empathy-difficult-times
[Accessed 11 December 2020].
Kimble, D., 2020. O'Neil Insurance. [Online]
Available at: https://oneillinsurance.com/blog/empathy-in-the-workplace/
[Accessed 11 December 2020].
Empathy is one of the most impotent felling every work please we seen, only thing people must understand not to take it as a wrong way.
ReplyDeleteThats right Palitha.
DeleteIt is very important to listen to the employees of an organization so that not only the needs of the employees but also the new ideas of the employees can enhance the existence of the organization. Existing organizations maintain very good communication with employees.
ReplyDeleteYes.
DeleteWell explained. Empathy can bring the gap between two parties closer when each other trying to think from the others angle. It gives everyone to understand the difficulty or the need of the other. When it comes to an organization, the level of engagement from employees can be improved when employers more try to think from employee angle.
ReplyDeleteNoted, Thank you !!!
DeleteRelationship between co workers or between managers and employees really matters with the job satisfaction and based on that all the other aspects relatively dependable. So the title you have discussed is can be considered as a important matter.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Pasan.
DeleteEmployers have the ability to listen to what employees says. It does not mean that employer should do whatever employee says. But, when there is an empathic working environment, employees feel that they are safe. It will bring a strong relationship between employer and employee.
ReplyDeleteYes, Thank you !!!
DeleteRelationship between employer & employee is very vital. In the work place empathy can show a deep respect for the Co workers. But ensure not to miss use it.
ReplyDeleteyes its suppose to be a strong bond
DeleteBetween Employer & employee need to maintain a good relationship basically. Empathy can show a deep respect to Co workers. But Ensure not to miss use it
ReplyDeleteNoted.
DeleteMore emphasis is given to customer at times the employee is totally forgotten. It is quite important to turn the pyramid upside down. Keep the employee happy, he/she will in return keep the customer happy
ReplyDeleteEmployees and employers must equally show their empathies to each other
DeleteEmpathy is the ability to perceive and relate to the thoughts, emotions, or experience of others. Those with high levels of empathy are skilled at understanding a situation from another person’s perspective and reacting with compassion.
ReplyDeleteNoted.
Delete