The Management Clinic

01/10/2021

""Empathy has always been a critical skill for leaders, but it is taking on a new level of meaning and priority. Far from a soft approach it can drive significant business results."
"But as we go through tough times, struggle with burnout or find it challenging to find happiness at work, empathy can be a powerful antidote and contribute to positive experiences for individuals and teams. A new study of 889 employees by Catalyst found empathy has some significant constructive effects...
Innovation. When people reported their leaders were empathetic, they were more likely to report they were able to be innovative—61% of employees compared to only 13% of employees with less empathetic leaders.
Engagement. 76% of people who experienced empathy from their leaders reported they were engaged compared with only 32% who experienced less empathy.
Retention. 57% of white women and 62% of women of color said they were unlikely to think of leaving their companies when they felt their life circumstances were respected and valued by their companies. However, when they didn’t feel that level of value or respect for their life circumstances, only 14% and 30% of white women and women of color respectively said they were unlikely to consider leaving.
Inclusivity. 50% of people with empathetic leaders reported their workplace was inclusive, compared with only 17% of those with less empathetic leadership.
Work-Life. When people felt their leaders were more empathetic, 86% reported they are able to navigate the demands of their work and life—successfully juggling their personal, family and work obligations. This is compared with 60% of those who perceived less empathy."
"According to a study published in Evolutionary Biology, when empathy was introduced into decision making, it increased cooperation and even caused people to be more empathetic. Empathy fostered more empathy."
"People will trust leaders and feel a greater sense of engagement and commitment when there is alignment between what the leader says and does. All that understanding of someone else’s situation should turn into compassion and action. Empathy in action is understanding an employee’s struggles and offering to help. It is appreciating a person’s point of view and engaging in a healthy debate that builds to a better solution. It is considering a team member’s perspectives and making a new recommendation that helps achieve greater success. As the popular saying goes, people may not remember what you say, but they will remember how you made them feel."
https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/09/19/empathy-is-the-most-important-leadership-skill-according-to-research/?sh=17f24aa03dc5

15/12/2020

The surprising positives we’d like to share about 2020 - Description

22/10/2020

05/03/2020

Understanding power in the workplace

Teamwork, negotiation and conflict management can be tricky arenas that are more easily navigated if we understand power and where it comes from.

It is the power dynamics between parties that can cause, fuel or dissipate conflict. Power determines how negotiations are concluded, and it can make or break ventures requiring collaboration

Power originates from a range of sources, all of which co-exist and influence each other continually as our dealings unfold.

Structural power comes from your position within a formal structure. Managers and leaders have power over employees granted by the organisational hierarchy. Policemen and regulators have powers over citizens by virtue of the law.

Relational power comes from inherent dynamics between parties due to the context. In general, clients have power over vendors, unless the vendor has a unique and essential offering, then the tables turn. Due to supply and demand in South Africa, employers have power over employees and job seekers

Financial power speaks to how having money can give you power over others. You can use this in many ways including legal action, purchasing publicity or affording the best professional support.

Legal power is derived from the rights accorded to you by law, although without financial power it becomes more difficult to protect these rights.

Personal power comes from having, or appearing to have, confidence, good communication skills, knowledge, inner conviction, persuasiveness and popularity.

Popular power is available to you when you, your cause or your stance is widely agreed by others who are prepared to support you.

Recognising the power base of people you are negotiation or working with can give valuable insight and guidance into how to move through these situations, and is critically important when resolving conflict.

21/02/2020

They call them 'soft skills,' but they are often the most essential skills.

Knowing how to think critically, collaborate, negotiate, communicate effectively and navigate conflict are critical in any teamwork scenario.

People are most often fired for not having soft skills. Well there's nothing 'soft' about getting fired.

27/01/2020

Progress in spite of the challenges you face

27/01/2020

https://marker.medium.com/3-differences-between-managers-and-leaders-394996d0ac9d

Are you creating value, or just tracking value?

14/01/2020

http://ideas.ted.com/why-do-so-many-incompetent-men-become-leaders-and-what-can-we-do-about-it/

If we want to improve the competence level of people in leadership positions, we need to improve our own competence for judging and selecting them, especially when they are men, says organizational…