Empathy: The Secret Weapon of Successful Leaders

Introduction

Hi everyone!

This article focuses on why leaders need to develop empathy and why it is indispensable for them. In this article, I will provide real life examples to illustrate this point.

I wish good readings to everyone.

First of all, I would like to start by defining empathy.

Empathy: I think empathy is the ability to put yourself in the situation of the person next to you and to strategize as if you were living that moment.

From explaining the other person's problems to finding a solution to their problems, empathy is a trait that a leader absolutely must have.

Now I would like to share with you the definitions and thoughts of famous leaders of our time about empathy.

"Leadership is about empathy. It is about having the ability to relate to and connect with people for the purpose of inspiring and empowering their lives." — Oprah Winfrey

"Leadership is not about being in charge. It's about taking care of those in your charge." — Simon Sinek

When we look at famous leaders in general, you can see that they can agree with me on this. Empathy is not only indispensable for leaders, but also an important weapon, given its definition and importance.

Now I would like to emphasize the importance of empathy once again, using real-life examples.

Example 1: Howard Schultz — Starbucks and Value Given to Employees

As CEO of Starbucks, Howard Schultz is known for his empathy towards his employees. In the 1980s, at a time when Starbucks was growing rapidly, Schultz decided to provide health insurance for all employees, despite facing financial difficulties. Many executives said the move would be too costly for the company. But Schultz treated his employees not just as "workers" but as "human beings". This empathetic leadership decision contributed greatly to Starbucks' brand culture and success. As a result, employees felt valued and this translated into better service, which was reflected in the customers.

Conclusion

In this article, I have focused on why leaders should have empathy in general and tried to reinforce the topic by giving a real life example.