World Champion in Project Management | Thinkers50 | CEO & Founder | Business Transformation | PMI Fellow & Past Chair | Professor | HBR Author | Executive Coach
🔴 In modern project management, empathy is far more than just a soft skill—it's a strategic asset! ⚫ Empathy allows us to see through the eyes of those we serve and work with, providing insight into what truly motivates and matters to them. This understanding leads to better communication, stronger team cohesion, and solutions that not only meet needs but also exceed expectations. When #projectleaders harness empathy, they foster an environment where every team member feels understood and valued, which drives innovation and efficiency. ✅ How are you leveraging empathy to enhance your #projects? #ProjectEconomy #ProjectManagement #Empathy #Leadership #Teamwork
Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez empathy is not just a soft skill; it's a strategic asset that drives better stakeholder engagement, team collaboration, conflict resolution, user satisfaction, risk management, change management, and innovation in modern project management. Embracing empathy can lead to more successful projects and ultimately, greater organizational success.
Absolutely agree, Antonio! Empathy is indeed a strategic asset in project management. I’ve seen firsthand how reading people’s intentions allows you to differentiate between those genuinely contributing to project success and those solely focused on personal career advancement. Understanding these motivations helps tailor communication and engagement strategies, ensuring that both groups deliver results aligned with the project’s goals. It’s a delicate balance, but when you combine empathy with sagacity, you can maximize commitment and foster a cohesive, innovative team.
Absolutely Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez many times this skill is not valued, as managers we must be attentive and help its development while valuing it in the project managers who already have it
I'm so done with the term "soft" skill. Either it's an essential skill for the role or not. Empathy, communications, organization, budgeting, strategic planning - they (and many more) are all essential skills needed for the role of Project Manager. A PM role may require skills heavier weighted than other PM roles might require as priority. It takes time to assess the essential skills required. When I create my succession plan, I expect to take that time to help the search committee better understand what skills are essential.
I agree! Empathy in project management is a strategic asset, enhancing communication, team cohesion, and innovative solutions. It fosters an environment where team members feel understood and valued, leading to more effective and efficient projects.
Could not agree more. How else can you truly understand your customers needs. Empathy allows us to step into others shoes and find solutions that may not otherwise be clear and obvious. In my experience the best solution is not always the one being talked about.
Empathy!!! What an ancient Greek word!!! The English word empathy is derived from the Ancient Greek ἐμπάθεια (empatheia, meaning "physical affection or passion"). That word derives from ἐν (en, "in, at") and πάθος (pathos, "passion" or "suffering"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empathy
Faculty at St. Lawrence College, Vice President at Centre for Workforce Development, small business owner, musician
8moEmpathy creates a sense of psychological safety in followers. That's good for project management because people tend to feel more open to express opinions and explore ideas when they believe they won't be ostracized or ridiculed. Because we have a harder time thinking rationally under emotional stress, empathy tends to foster better problem solving in projects. It's hard to argue against it!