At present, a new type of figure is being sought and developed to form groups in team work: the empathic leader. This new role has much to do with a generational change, with a more open mentality towards the workers, thus breaking with the traditional scheme of the authoritarian boss.

The same concept includes a human quality: empathy. The empathic leadership is that leadership whose way of fitting into a group of individuals is based on the connection between people and the human and close treatment. Understanding others and empowering their feelings within the group becomes a necessity.

Defining Empathetic Leadership

There is fierce competition within the labour market. In the labour market , an added value is sought , an extra plus that can make a difference with respect to the rest. In other words, companies no longer seek only professional or academic knowledge. Large or small firms look for that pedagogical and emotional characteristic in a candidate who is going to captain the staff.

Thus, the empathic leadership tries to be based on a deeper understanding of each one of the members of a team . To know their abilities, their virtues, their defects, their communication, cooperation and integration capacities. The final objective of this technique is to enhance work performance and to involve all the members of the group.

Leader vs. Boss

The differences between “the boss” and “the leader” should be noted. The former holds a hierarchical position within a company . This is someone who is expressly dedicated to distributing directives and transmitting orders in different tasks, without much margin to discern or show opposition to what is ordered.

The leader, however, gains sympathy, his own subordinates transfer that power, that legitimacy to him. The difference between the two profiles is a question of attitude. The empathic leadership is formed on the basis of trust and mutual respect between worker and superior.

Characteristics of the empathic leader

Empathic leadership is not limited only to empathy as a defining model. It responds to a series of bases and qualities that are much deeper than the personalist attitude.

Specifically, these are the 7 pillars of empathic leadership:

1. Humility

This is the basic principle of this type of leadership. Arrogance, arrogance or denigration are concepts antagonistic to empathy. A good leader must treat all members with respect and without compromising their dignity, simply.

2. Flexibility

This translates directly into an unjustified lack of rigidity, without forgetting that the last word in decision-making remains with the leader. Often authority is lost if this detail is not well taken care of .

3. Passion

The figure of the leader must show at all times an active attitude and energy . He or she has to transmit these values to the rest of the group, so that they all row in the same direction.

4. Values

In many of the companies and groups this lack exists when it comes to transmitting certain values. Corporatism is very important in the development of a business, and leadership must set an example and reinforce the company’s principles .

5. Knowledge

The leader, more than anyone else, has to demonstrate an absolute knowledge of the subject matter. This is the added value that respect for the other members of the team will bring. It is of the utmost importance to justify leadership on its own merits and aptitude .

6. Trust

Another of the ultimate elements in demonstrating good leadership. The group leader must show confidence in the abilities of the other members, and ask them about how to do or undo it.

7. Learning

As much as knowledge is a quality of any candidate to lead or captain a given group, the extra learning never hurts . Above all, learning from the same members of the group, there has to be feedback from both sides and a good leader needs to listen to others in order to grow professionally.

Why does this phenomenon appear?

All this responds to a generational evolution in all aspects. Sociology has taken it upon itself to demonstrate that we are moving towards a more collectivist, less hierarchical society in which consensus is more highly valued.

In this way, this has also been transferred and applied in the business field. Our parents’ times were different. Decades ago the boss was the highest authority , without caring too much about the needs of each of the workers. This already archaic way of managing a group of people was often discussed.

Empathic leadership arises from a need to improve productive performance combined with a change in values at a social level . It is necessary to give a personal and individual value to each one of the individuals that are part of a group.

Thus, numerous studies and reports have highlighted the effectiveness and productivity that entails implementing an empathic leadership model, being the only one that can respond to the different needs and concerns to increase group welfare.