Replace These Unempathetic Leadership & Teamwork Replies | #Empathy

Unempathetic leadership disconnects leaders from those they lead. It doesn’t reach anyone in a positive way. Unempathetic leadership demotivates many and lowers morale and performance. As a result, lack of empathy becomes the norm. Then employees model this behavior with each other. We all know what happens to teamwork after that.



Unempathetic Leadership & Teamwork Replies: Image is concrete bells chained together.

Replace These Unempathetic Leadership & Teamwork Replies. Image by Sergio Russo via Flickr Creative Commons License.

Image by Sergio Russo via Flickr Creative Commons License.


Replace 5 Unempathetic Leadership & Teamwork Replies

Nonetheless, the good news is that leaders and teams can change this pretty easily. Change the way you talk to each other and empathy comes out once again.

  1. Life is tough, get over it. When someone is telling you about their struggle, this reply is the same as saying “shut up.” Instead of this, show them you are interested. “It’s a lot to handle. How does all of this make you feel?” Simple empathy like this re-energizes people with hope.

  2. You should have known …. Spare others your patronizing unneeded lecture. Empathy is not a lecture. It is far better to help those you lead learn from their mistakes not scold them like children.

  3. Well if you believed in yourself more … Empathy is not a blame fest. Don’t question their self-confidence. Listen to how they feel and then share the greatness and strengths you see in them.



  4. Lack of Empathy is Often Discomfort w/ Emotion

  5. You are too sensitive. When you say this, you are showing your lack of emotional intelligence. You hired human beings not machines. Instead of labeling employees as too sensitive, discuss the situation that has upset them. It shows them empathy. It tells them that they matter.


  6. Unempathetic Leadership Tells Others They Don’t Matter

  7. There is no “I” in team. You have just told them that they don’t count as individuals. But today’s employees come to work expecting purposeful work that has meaning to them as individuals. Don’t use this time-worn (and untrue motto) about teamwork. Instead, show each of them how their individual talents contribute to team success.


If you struggle with showing empathy, here are nine places where you can find it within yourself. Set aside mistaken beliefs that empathy blocks productivity or that empathy makes everyone weak. Respect and empathy build trust — and that drives team success.



Picture leaders & teams without empathy. What do you see happening?


From my professional experience to your success,
Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™

Related Post:
How to Nourish Your Leadership Empathy

©2020-2023 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. I appreciate your sharing the link to this post on your social streams. However, if you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com for permission and guidelines. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.


Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™, delivers coaching, consulting, training, and keynotes on leading change, employee engagement, teamwork, and delivering the ultimate customer service. She turns interaction obstacles into interpersonal success. See this site for workshop outlines, keynote footage, and customer results.



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2 Responses to “Replace These Unempathetic Leadership & Teamwork Replies | #Empathy”

  1. Alli Polini says:

    The words we use, our tone and intention send a clear message to our teams. I once worked for someone who would ask: “Did you even think about this?” “Are you kidding me?” Things like that show a lack of empathy and people will not stand by leaders like that. In this case, the senior leadership team left one by one. The importance of leadership empathy can’t be underestimated.

    Alli

    • Kate Nasser says:

      Hi Alli,
      GREAT examples from your experience add tremendously to the reach of this post and lessons learned. “Did you even think about this” is an insult and will truly drive others away. And as you say, one by one the senior leadership team left this abuser.

      Thank you so much for adding to this discussion.
      Kate

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