How Empathic Leaders Drive Performance - A Spotlight on Maria Ross

My weekly Purposeful Empathy newsletter is dedicated to amplifying the voices of people from around the globe who believe the world needs more empathy - and are doing something about it. In October, I’m shining a spotlight on experts who have explored the role of empathy in workplaces and educational settings, as well as the transformative power of empathic listening in fostering meaningful connections.

According to Maria Ross, we have entered a new era in the workplace. “It’s a world where successful leaders embrace a human-centric approach, prioritizing the mental health and personal responsibilities of their employees alongside their professional ones.”

That sounds promising. But in her book, The Empathy Dilemma How Successful Leaders Balance Performance, People, and Personal Boundaries, she writes about how a dark side to empathic workplaces has emerged post-pandemic. One in which many leaders are struggling to keep both productivity and morale high. 

In addition, she describes how “weaponized empathy” is being used by some employees to avoid accountability. Alternatively, how well-meaning people often overshadow others' struggles by sharing their personal experiences, which ultimately hampers moments of connection between colleagues.

Her remedy for all of this? Focus on the following five pillars of empathic leadership:

• Self-awareness: Which requires setting aside our ego, and understanding our triggers.
• Self-care: Which gives our mind the space to recharge, and helps to shift our perspective.
• Clarity: The lens through which leaders can see the real needs of their team.
• Decisiveness: Which empowers leaders to act with confidence and a steady hand.
• Joy: Which cultivates a positive atmosphere where empathy can thrive.

In a recent conversation on my podcast, Maria also described why empathic leadership also bolsters workplace wellbeing and productivity. She says: “The brain science shows that when we’re under stress, when we’re feeling anxious, when we’re being yelled at, when punitive actions are being taken against us, our cognitive abilities are lessened. They’re diminished and nobody wants a workplace full of people that are not thinking at their best capacity.”

Published last month, Maria's new book has come out at the perfect time for leaders to revisit the power of empathy.

Want to learn more about empathy? Order my debut book, Purposeful Empathy: Tapping Our Hidden Superpower for Personal, Organizational, and Social Change.

Watch my Purposeful Empathy interview with Maria Ross on YouTube here or listen to it as a podcast on your favourite platform (Spotify or Apple Podcasts).