Empathy's Importance for Servant-Leaders
Empathy had little place in the old, top-down model of leadership. Putting oneself in another's shoes smacked of weakness and often was judged to be opposed to "treating everyone the same", which was mistakenly considered being fair.
Everyone is not the same; this is a fact of life. Being fair recognizes differences. Servant-leaders know this. To be an servant-leader -- that is, someone who influences others for a common good -- means knowing what followers are feeling, thinking, perceiving as much as possible. Great servant-leaders nurtured empathy: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa certainly exemplify empathy in leadership.
Thus, Robert Greenleaf listed empathy as one of the ten characteristics of servant-leaders: "The servant-leader strives to understand and empathize with others. People need to be accepted and recognized for their special and unique spirits. One assumes the good intentions of co-workers and colleagues and does not reject them as people, even when one may be forced to refuse to accept certain behaviors or performance. The most successful servant-leaders are those who have become skilled empathetic listeners."
Empathy can be encouraged in any organization. For example, when dealing with a difficult issue or person, step back and take time to reflect on these questions: What if I were in this situation? How would I feel? What would I want to happen?
Dr. Virginia Pharr teaches a course on Empathy and Imagination in Viterbo University's MA in Servant Leadership Program. Here are some websites that she has found helpful in learning about empathy:
BusinessBalls. Empathy and Trust.
Clark, Gable, & Barakat. Raising Kind Children.
Clemmer, Jim. Apathy and Cynicism Zap Our Spirit.
The Conover Company. The Success Profiler – Empathy.
The Organization Development Company. Empathy – A Key Concept
Everyone is not the same; this is a fact of life. Being fair recognizes differences. Servant-leaders know this. To be an servant-leader -- that is, someone who influences others for a common good -- means knowing what followers are feeling, thinking, perceiving as much as possible. Great servant-leaders nurtured empathy: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Mother Theresa certainly exemplify empathy in leadership.
Thus, Robert Greenleaf listed empathy as one of the ten characteristics of servant-leaders: "The servant-leader strives to understand and empathize with others. People need to be accepted and recognized for their special and unique spirits. One assumes the good intentions of co-workers and colleagues and does not reject them as people, even when one may be forced to refuse to accept certain behaviors or performance. The most successful servant-leaders are those who have become skilled empathetic listeners."
Empathy can be encouraged in any organization. For example, when dealing with a difficult issue or person, step back and take time to reflect on these questions: What if I were in this situation? How would I feel? What would I want to happen?
Dr. Virginia Pharr teaches a course on Empathy and Imagination in Viterbo University's MA in Servant Leadership Program. Here are some websites that she has found helpful in learning about empathy:
BusinessBalls. Empathy and Trust.
Clark, Gable, & Barakat. Raising Kind Children.
Clemmer, Jim. Apathy and Cynicism Zap Our Spirit.
The Conover Company. The Success Profiler – Empathy.
The Organization Development Company. Empathy – A Key Concept
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