Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within their frame of reference, that is, the capacity to place oneself in another's position.
Types of empathy
Affective empathy: This is the ability to understand another person's emotions and respond appropriately. For instance, empathizing with someone who just lost a love one.
Somatic empathy: This is having a sort of physical reaction in response to what someone else is experiencing. For instance, empathizing with someone who is being tortured or injured or feeling embarrassed on behave of someone who is being embarrassed.
Cognitive empathy: The act of being able to understand another person's mental state and what they might be thinking in response to the situation. It's otherwise known as theory of mind in psychology.
Difference between empathy,compassion and sympathy
While sympathy and compassion are related to empathy, there are important differences.
Compassion and sympathy are often thought to involve more of a passive connection, while empathy generally involves a much more active attempt to understand another person.
What leadership is not
Leadership has nothing to do with seniority or one’s position in the hierarchy of a company, church,mosque, school or even within classroom walls.
Leadership has nothing to do with titles.
Leadership has nothing to do with personal attributes.
Leadership isn’t management.
Then,what exactly is leadership?
Let find out from famous men of our time.
Peter Drucker: “The only definition of a leader is someone who has followers.”
Warren Bennis: “Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”
Bill Gates: “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.”
John Maxwell: “Leadership is influence – nothing more, nothing less.”
Leadership
Leadership is a process of social influence, which maximizes the efforts of others, towards the achievement of a goal.
Having known the base of the words that make up empathetic leadership. Let's now look into the word itself.
What is empathetic leadership all about?
It is one of the values of leadership.
Empathetic leadership is a style of leadership that focuses on identifying with others and understanding their point of view.
Empathetic leadership means having the ability to understand the needs of others, and being aware of their feelings and thoughts.
Over the years, I have come to realize that one of the qualities of a successful leader is being a person-focused and being able to work well with people from different spheres of life.
The ability to be compassionate and connect with others is critical to our lives both personally and professionally.
Demonstrating empathy at work, social gatherings or during school project is a key part of emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness which also improves human interactions in general and can lead to more effective communication and positive outcomes.
One of the misconceptions about being a leader is that it's an opportunity to be served but in the real sense of it, it's a call to serve others.
Another of such, is it brings about respect but the truth is, respect is not to be brought but to be earned. One of the ways to earn it is by being an empathic leader.
How then can you empathize with others in order to skyrocket your leadership value?
Work on listening to people without interrupting.
Pay attention to body language and other types of nonverbal communication.
Try to understand people, even when you don't agree with them.
Ask people questions to learn more about them.
Imagine yourself in another person's shoes.
Conclusion
Having said all these, I believe that it will be of help in your leadership journey and there is assurance that I will see you at the top.
Vote of thanks
My appreciation goes to everyone who took out of their busy schedule to celebrate me on my birthday in my previous article ,the upvotes, comments,likes and views, all are not taken for granted.
Also to my sponsors, I couldn't have gotten this far (now 1month old here🥳💃🏻)without you blessed humans.
To @Ellawrites who noticed I haven't published for awhile and checked up me and to @Tomi-Ajax who ginger me to keep going. You guys are friends indeed. Thank you for all you do.
Would say I much in the cognitive empathy zone.