Leading Through Understanding by Hannah

Leading Through Understanding by Hannah - December 2021 Scholarship Essay

In my eyes, empathy is undoubtedly the trait that best defines and encompasses what it means to be a leader as this characteristic aids in establishing a positive work environment, accounts for different spheres of diversity, and enhances general group productivity. For one to adequately be considered a leader, they must prove themselves capable of understanding the needs and others, and also acting and making decisions according to these differences.
The vastness and extensive diversity that exists in today’s working, educational, and general day to day environments calls for a heightened ability to understand and empathize with others. I have found that, through both personal experiences and observations of surrounding leadership oriented spheres, diversity and differences are beginning to become embraced rather than hidden. Diversity is a concept that applies to racial and cultural backgrounds, mental health experiences, and other internal and external stressors that exist within individuals lives. I find it immensely significant and necessary for leaders to have the ability to not just understand others' situations, but to act and make decisions based upon these understandings. Attaining a position of leadership comes with the responsibility of understanding and empathizing with those that one is leading, demonstrating the ability to establish environments that suit individual needs and make people feel comfortable, regardless of individual differences.
An empathetic leader will likely establish relationships with those that they lead through increased levels of understanding, bringing about effective decision making; moreover, the actions and decisions of the leader will likely align with the needs of as many people as possible. Being capable of connecting with and meeting the needs of the broader group is so insanely important for a leader, not just in terms of personal needs, but also to help the leader know the best ways to make decisions and behave. Regardless of the situation, whether that be a work, school, friendship, or other personal environment, being a leader can be a daunting and stressful responsibility. Working to establish an environment that fits the group can truly only be accomplished through a sufficient and developed sense of empathy that exists within the leader.
Alongside meeting personal group needs and establishing efficient modes of decision making, an empathetic leader can aid in enhancing the broader productivity and performance levels of a group; with this, leading through empathy can help create a more positive and functioning work environment. Through a conscious and consistent effort to lead with empathy, a leader will be heightening the functionality and production levels of their team. Empathy proves to be an important trait in a variety of spheres, and productivity levels are simply an added bonus that heightens the importance of leading by understanding. A leader that fails to act with empathy, perhaps due to the prioritization of personal needs and preferences, not only establishes an unwelcoming group environment but also stunts the broader levels of productivity and performance.
Being empathetic is a defining trait of being a leader. Scratch that, empathy is the defining trait of being a leader. Leading without empathizing is essentially a misuse of an authority position, as there is a clear disregard for the needs, differences, and priorities that one is leading. Leading with empathizing, on the other hand, creates a working environment that benefits both the leaders and the group members, while also enhancing productivity and normalizing making changes that account for diversity and unique differences.