Loving Leadership: Commanded to Empathy

In this episode of Faithful on the Clock, you’ll learn why empathy helps your company’s bottom line and how it helps you fulfill the second commandment to love your neighbor as you lead. Need to build your empathy? You’ll get three practical tips on how to do that, too.

Timestamps:

[00:06] - Intro

[00:38] - Leaders are shifting from a product-centric mindset to a relationship- or human-centric mindset.

[01:55] - Why leaders are putting more emphasis on empathy

[03:35] - The old way of thinking is gone, but you can be confident that empathy is financially helpful.

[04:00] - Behaving empathetically is scripturally supported in the story of Adam and Eve.

[04:22] - The story of Lazarus shows that Jesus had empathy for others.

[05:23] - There are three main ways to build empathy.

[05:40] - Strategy #1: Experience stuff

[06:26] - Strategy #2: Shift how you listen

[07:09] - Strategy #3: Ask tons of questions

[08:06] - There are other ways to build empathy, but these strategies are a good start.

[08:22] - Prayer

[09:18] - Outro/what’s coming up next

Key takeaways:

• In the past, leaders focused on products and market share, and they separated their personal and professional lives. Today, though, leaders are focusing on relationships, because they know that people are looking for purpose and want to do business with companies whose values align with their own.
• You can be confident that an empathetic approach benefits the bottom line by raising morale, productivity, etc. But it is also scripturally supported. The story of Adam and Eve shows we were made to connect, and the story of Lazarus demonstrates that Jesus had empathy for others.
• There are three main ways to build empathy--1) experiencing stuff, 2) shifting the way you listen, and 3) asking lots of questions.
• Other mindfulness techniques, such as journaling, can support empathy, as well.

Relevant Links:

Help your employees find purpose--or watch them leave

71% of Consumers Prefer Buying from Companies Aligned with Their Values 

CTAs:

• Use the three strategies identified in this podcast to become more empathetic on the job.
• Visit patreon.com/FaithfulOnTheClock to become a supporting member of the show.

What’s coming up next:

How does good self-discipline benefit you at work? Is there a way to help others be more self-disciplined as you go? That’s coming up in Episode 7 of the Faithful on the Clock podcast.