Written by: Ilse de la Cruz Gomez, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Have you ever thought about the importance of the question “How are you / How are you doing?” Now, I would like to ask you: how often do you ask this question genuinely to your team members?
Society nowadays is focused on achieving goals and key performance indicators (KPI), however, the human aspect of organizations should not be left behind. At the end of the day, we are humans working and collaborating in the workplace.
In my opinion, there lies the importance of the leader’s role. Leadership is a human-centric task. The role of the leader in organizations is specifically that, meaning to be a leader, not only at a hierarchy level in the organization but rather to be a role model.
In the job description of the leader, up until today, I have never seen the title of “super-hero” that solves problems and makes decisions in an isolated way. That is why it is vital that the leader knows and can work with and through others.
There are plenty of leadership theories, but essentially, the most successful leaders, are those who can mobilize efforts via humane treatment and mutual understanding. Here is where empathy comes into play.
Do you know the talents of your team members? Do you know their current professional/personal situation? Do you know their aspirations and dreams?
Connecting on the human level can unleash the full potential of a team. This –unleashing the full potential of people- can be achieved with efforts and dedication, not only with target-oriented tasks but also by getting to know the team members individually so well, that they can apply their natural talents, skills, competencies, and strengths into the workplace.
Did you know that 15% is the average engagement among employees worldwide?
Engaged team members (including leaders) are those who work with passion and feel a profound connection to their company. As a result, engaged team members give their best, and care actively about the resources of the organization, and in the best case, they can improve processes or generate innovative ideas. This is entrepreneurship (or rather said intrapreneurship). Can you distinguish the connection and impact that empathy has? An empathetic leader seeks to understand their counterparts, helps remove obstacles, and provides moral and tangible support, generating trust and creating profound bonds of safety and belonging. On the contrary, zero empathy can create a distancing between the leader and team members, where there is no room for trust, no room to share worries or failures because it is known in advance that there is no room for the leaders’ eyes or ears to be open to hear and see.
I repeat my question, do you recognize the importance of the question “How are you / How are you doing?”
If you are interested to know more about this topic, I highly recommend (at least) the following two tools:
To help you discover people’s natural talents, use CliftonStrengths.
To help you recognize and reflect on your performance as a leader: 360° Feedback.
Peter Drucker once said: “we cannot motivate others, we can only create an environment for others to motivate themselves”.
Leave your comments or question below to continue with the conversation.
Ilse de la Cruz Gomez, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Ilse de la Cruz Gomez is a Sr. HR Global Expert with a strong focus on leadership and people development. Throughout her career, Ilse de la Cruz Gomez has worked in Germany, the United States, China, and Mexico, giving her a truly cross-cultural approach. She is also a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and has earned various coaching certifications in Mexico, Germany, and Switzerland. Her mission is to connect global communities through education, new technologies, and coaching, and to empower leaders and professionals around the world. In 2022, she received the CREA Global Award from Sweden and the Outstanding Leadership Award in Dubai in recognition of her contributions to the field of education and learning.
