Creating Empathetic Leaders in a Fear-Filled Time

The ongoing questions many are solving for include quotWhat does leadership look like in the current climatequot and quotWhat are the new rules of conducting business and keeping staff engaged and inspiredquotamp160 Silver39s answers revolved around her advocacy for maintaining high touchamp160 In a virtual world this approach often requires that leaders show vulnerability and authenticity that can feel counterintuitive to traditional management stylesWhen asked by one attendee how to deal with a lessthanempathetic quotsuperiorquot Silver bridled quotThe word 39superior39 makes my skin crawlquotamp160 Her explanation summed up her stance for going forward in today39s new realityamp160 quotThis world today has changed foreverquot she saidamp160 quotThe fact that we now are looking at each other on FaceTime working together and collaborating takes empathyamp160 It takes patienceamp160 It takes vulnerability and letting someone into your personal lifeamp160 My hope is that those people who think they can lead from an ivory tower will learn they just can39tquotTo this chief heart officer words amp8212 and empathetic actions amp8212 matteramp160 She is not a fan of the phrase quotsoft skillsquot in describing communication or people skills for example and instead prefers quotlife skillsquot for which employees should be affirmedamp160 quotBeing the bigger person in every situation might be considered a soft skillquot she explained quotbut it39s very much now what I39m equating with a high performerquot versus a micromanager or bullyEmpathy is a skill that leaders need now more than ever amp8212 especially those who are learning the flexibility dance amp8212 in realizing that the world we39re in today will likely continue as a revolution in future times with more employees shifting to working from homeamp160 And that means understanding that there are dogs to walk and kids to feed during the workdayAs hiring managers adjust to virtual interviews one need only take a page from Silver39s approach which she established many years preCOVID19 as a good option to adopt in updating old waysamp160 At Vayner she renamed the human resources group the People and Experience Departmentamp160 Her team is composed of quotCulture Championsquot in part because she feels hiring for skillset fit hard or life skills and culture addition not quotfitquot as in sameness is essential for company growth and diversityIt39s still possible to observe a candidate39s qualities such as body language and focus through the screen and those words that matter come through tooamp160 For example Silver listens for signs that telegraph Vayner39s core values of curiosity possibility and optimism in prospects39 languageamp160 She likes those who use more quotwequot than quotIquot to indicate a team mentality and asks many openended or emotionally focused questions such as quotTell me a time when your team failedquot or quotHow do you celebrate successquotWithout the ability to have candidates or staff travel to offices for the inperson hightouch treatment of traditional meetings quotWe use all different types of technologies to understand what it is they39re going throughquot Silver saidamp160 She wants to communicate around quotfeelings like anxiety or like 39I can never shut off because I39m always on39 with people texting at 10 at nightquotHer Culture Champions create fun ice breakers through Skype or Zoom meetings so they can see other39s faces amp8212 what she calls quot12 to 12quotamp160 That39s 12 people gathered for 12 minutes at 12 o39clockFor those still looking to make their career mark who may be concerned about showing their own vulnerability her advice is quotbe who you are Continue to let yourself shineamp160 That doesn39t mean shine the light on youamp160 Shine the light out of you so you39re bringing this goodness to other peopleamp160 It will be noticed and you will find a sponsor a Sherpa a guide to take you forward into your careerquotThat Sherpa may take the form of a mentor which has been a core component of She Runs It for close to 25 yearsamp160 Silver refers to Vayner39s quotWe not I culturequot as one that also demands mentoringamp160 quotLeadership isn39t dictating what needs to happenquot she saysamp160 quotMentors need to come together and share best practices share learning share challenges amp8230 and create more effective programs more effective skills and toolsquotFor staff to quotmanage upquot and influence culture and leadership empathy Silver shared the following adviceamp160 quotChange takes a groundswell two three four people to get together on the fringes and start doing things a women39s network within your organization or an improv groupquot she saidamp160 quotIf you have this group of people who are passionate about bringing more socalled 39soft skills39 to the organization then leadership will take notice once people start flocking to it once there are enough people who say 39Can we have a Pride event here39amp160 39Can we have an art show here39amp160 But it does take actionquotamp160 Even if these days it has to start as a Slack channelFinally to quotface the fear and do it anywayquot Silver cited The Little Engine That Couldamp160 quotIn taking the first step in a pivot remember 39I think I can I think I can39quot she suggestedamp160 quotA big part of overcoming fear is what you put into your headamp160 Saying things like 39I am worthy39 could be corny but mantras or affirmations that will ground you in some way are very very importantamp160 You39re either going to let fear propel you and turn that fear into motivation which then turns into possibility which turns into action and then you do it and it becomes a habit and wowquotOr are you39re going to let the fear keep you on the couch and shuffling through the channels all dayquot she askedamp160 quotWe all have that choice every single dayquotDon39t stop now Stay in the know on audio and media industry trends with executive interviews and more from EB MossClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friends The opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent those of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet

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Creating Empathetic Leaders in a Fear-Filled Time

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