Are you too focused on achieving your work goals?
While ambition and drive can help propel you forward in your career, sometimes they can lead to neglecting crucial aspects of your work environment and relationships with your team. Let’s explore how this single-minded pursuit of success might be impacting you and your team and what you can do to correct course.
Let me tell you a story about a client whom I will call Sarah, who was able to use empathy not only in her office but also in her career.
We’ll rewind back to 2016 to see where she was in her journey. Sarah was known for her ability to tackle demanding projects with tight deadlines. Whether it meant working late nights, long hours, or even skipping holidays, she was committed to delivering exceptional results for her team and the company. Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed—she was the person to turn to when something needed to get done.
Sarah ran a tight ship, set high expectations for her team, and relentlessly pushed them to excel.
Nothing was ever good enough for her, and she never said no to her bosses.
She was so focused on achieving outstanding performance that she fully expected a promotion to be on the horizon. But then, things took a turn for the worse.
Sarah’s team started showing increasing signs of dissatisfaction. Absenteeism rates were rising, and several team members had left the organisation altogether. In her last meeting, her supervisor hinted that there were concerns about her leadership abilities.
Sarah faced two choices:
She could push her team even more challenging to make up for the slack of those who had left, or take a step back and reevaluate her approach as a manager and leader.
Given her single-minded focus on achieving success, she might have been tempted to choose the first option.
However, Sarah chose the second path and began exploring how to improve her leadership style. As she started researching and learning more about effective leadership, she discovered that empathy was a critical skill she had neglected.
She couldn’t recall the last time she had checked in with a team member to see how they were feeling or what kind of support they needed. Determined to make a change, Sarah began implementing empathy in her daily interactions.
She started taking the time to listen to her team’s concerns and offering support where she could.
Her team members were initially surprised by the shift, but they soon began to open up as they saw her genuine interest in their well-being. As Sarah gained her team’s trust, she learned they felt overworked and underappreciated under her previous leadership style. Her high expectations and poor communication had created a toxic work environment that contributed to the high rates of absenteeism and resignations.
Sarah began to change her approach by setting clear and realistic expectations for her team and improving her communication. She also tried to recognize and celebrate her team members’ accomplishments, big or small.
This newfound focus on empathy and connection gradually transformed her team’s dynamic and improved their overall job satisfaction.
Fast forward to today, and the atmosphere in Sarah’s office is entirely different. The team continues to produce excellent results, but now they feel valued and supported. This created a more positive and innovative work environment. Team members are more willing to share their ideas and take risks. They knew that Sarah will listen and provide the support they need. Lesson learnt!
So, what can we learn from Sarah’s journey?
The story of Sarah’s transformation offers valuable insights into the importance of empathy in the workplace.
It’s easy to get caught up in pursuing success and forget the human element of leading a team.
Incorporating empathy into your leadership style can foster a more positive and productive work environment for you and your team.
Does Sarah’s pre-empathy approach resonate with you? Or does your office environment share similarities with her former workplace? If so, consider exploring how empathy can benefit you and your colleagues and help steer your career in a positive direction. Ready to see how you measure up as an engaging executive? Try our free ENGAGE Questionnaire and learn how to elevate your leadership style. By focusing on empathy and connection, you can lead your team to new heights of success.