Active listening and setting boundaries
A few years ago, I cancelled a meeting at the drop of a cat. Yes, you read it correctly, at the drop of a cat.
A fifty-something male member of my team stood teary-eyed in front of me and asked if he could go home to comfort his son who called to say that the family’s pet cat of 13 years was dying.
Realizing that my team member was too distraught to complete an important report that we were set to discuss that afternoon, I let him go home and at the same time, I said that I would reschedule our meeting for the following day.
I could totally relate to my distraught team member’s reaction. I remember how upsetting it was when my own cat, Ginger, died alone while I was away on a business trip.
On reflection, I realized that in this situation, there was a healthy dose of #empathy, balanced with the commitment to get the work done.
Empathy is the ability to understand the other person’s perspective and respond in a way that supports the needs of the other person, even if you don’t necessarily agree with their point of view or emotional response to a situation.
Although my experience with the death of my own cat made this situation relatable, there have been times when it was difficult to understand the concerns and emotional reactions of my team members.
Striking a balance between the well-being of the employee and the corporation’s #financialperformance was challenging.
I had to learn to listen actively to what was being said, how it was being said and why it was being said…. a tough thing for a talker like me!
I found out that the key to empathetic #leadership is setting healthy emotional and professional boundaries, which strikes the right balance between #empathy and the ability to make sound #management decisions. For example,
- Never playing psychologist to a distraught employee. Offer help by referrals to #employeeassistanceprogram (EAP) or other professional resources.
- Accommodate special requests and preferences (e.g., assign special projects, flexible work schedules, etc.) without compromising the delivery of core mandates. Be clear about the special accommodations.
A reminder to leaders –
Empathy is meaningful when employees are listened to, when they feel that they are heard. More importantly, leadership must commit to implementing solutions that balance the needs of employees and the organization so that employees thrive and the organization prospers.
See the BIG picture. Focus on what’s important.
Further reading
Caring for work from home caregivers
Prendre soin des proche aidants qui font le travail à domicile
Make workplace empathy meaningful: Provide employee benefits that help women advance their careers
theBIGpicture Camille 