Emotional Intelligence: Why is Empathy Important in the Workplace?

Contents

A look at how to bring the benefits of emotional intelligence to the workplace

We’ve all been there. That moment when we had to bottle up our emotions in order to conform to the “work persona.” We put on a brave face and pretended like everything was okay, even when it wasn’t. This isn’t healthy, and it’s time for things to change. 

What if emotional intelligence in the workplace was accepted everywhere? Taking empathy as an example, emotional intelligence is one of the most important traits an employee and a leader can have. And denying the need to express their emotions hurts both them and the company as a whole. 

Director at Key Search

Empathy allows us to understand our colleagues,
their needs, and how they are feeling.
Instead of shaming each other for emotions we often can’t control in the moment,
empathy gives us the opportunity to work together more effectively by taking into consideration how different people react.

In this blog post, we will discuss the importance and benefits of emotional intelligence in the workplace and the importance and success of feminine leadership.

Defining emotional intelligence and empathy in the workplace

For authentic leaders, empathy is a crucial part of emotional intelligence in the workplace. In turn, these are essential leadership skills that still go unrecognized for their importance. Weaving empathy and inclusivity into our professional lives demonstrates a level of understanding and care that can set leaders apart from their male counterparts.

Director at Key Search

Showing empathy in the workplace is an important tool. It’s how a supportive and productive environment is created. 

The Benefits of Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace

Female leaders are trailblazers in the workplace. They understand valuable emotional intelligence is in achieving success. Showing empathy and compassion towards colleagues fosters better relationships by providing a safe place for teamwork and creative problem solving. 

Understanding the power of empathy and using it to pave the way for more successful workstyles can benefit everyone within an organization.

Emotional intelligence: a tool for effective leadership

Being able to recognize, understand, and be compassionate towards your colleagues’ feelings and situations is what defines emotional intelligence in the workplace, an invaluable tool for effective leadership. Leaders who live and cultivate empathy are able to:

> create strong team dynamics
> boost morale
> ensure everyone feels hard and included
> make success possible and sustainable

It’s a must-have for leaders who want to empower their teams and their entire company, and women leaders are key to bringing emotional intelligence from empathy to compassion into the boardroom. Here, it can revolutionize corporate culture through all levels of an organization by promoting collaboration and creating an environment of support and respect.

Emotional intelligence is integral to building and maintaining effective relationships, so demonstrating empathy as an important part of emotional intelligence in the workplace not only allows us to understand those around us but opens up the possibility for everyone to be seen, heard, and appreciated for their contributions. Every time.

By harnessing empathy we can create better workplaces built on inclusion, respect, and collaboration.

5 Steps to implement emotional intelligence in the workplace

Are you looking for ways to implement empathy in the workplace? Whether your startup is just getting started or you’re looking for ways to achieve this goal in a larger organization, it all starts with effective leadership.

Read more on DEI and inclusive leadership in our blog article: Inclusive Leadership

Implementing these steps means your company is taking five big steps towards emotional intelligence in the workplace, leading to improved team morale, increased productivity, better problem solving with more creative solutions and finally, greater success for the entire organization.

Director at Key Search

Let’s take steps towards normalizing emotions in the workplace
and let’s allow people to express themselves;
isn’t that a big part of inclusion?

The importance of empathy as part of emotional intelligence in the workplace

As a result, it is important for developed nations to provide support and resources to assist in this process, recognizing the potential for global benefits when technology is accessible to all.

McKinsey research proves the importance of empathy as part of emotional intelligence in the workplace in their 2022 study. In the wake of the pandemic, companies have prioritized employee well-being and mental health. 

As a result, empathy in the workplace has risen to the top of companies’ agendas, giving all employees, from team members to leaders, more visibility into what’s going on in one another’s personal lives. Companies see a shift – the pandemic has created a feeling of solidarity and fostered empathy and understanding among employees.

These trends identified by McKinsey point to an increased focus on supporting employees as “whole people”, which creates positive results, because when employees feel like they can bring their whole selves to work, they are:

> happier with their job
> more optimistic about their company’s commitment to gender and racial equality
> less likely to consider leaving
> more comfortable sharing challenges with managers and coworkers, 

These give companies the visibility to make changes that improve employees’ experiences. It’s a positive cycle: the more employees can bring their whole selves to work, the better the workplace will be for them—and for everyone.

About the Author

Key Search

We hire your key leaders

Key Search has decades of experience and a proven track record in finding the very best leadership talent. Our in-depth knowledge allows us to find applicants with the leadership style, skills and abilities you need, so get in touch with your executive search challenge today.