Understanding authority and empathy is the key to leadership: The balancing act of the Great leaders
When we think about leadership, we often equate it with authority, decisiveness, and being able to handle pressure. However, the most effective leaders, and more so women, know about the fact that authority and empathy are not two opposing characteristics. In fact, they are quite complimentary in nature. Great leaders possess the rare ability to combine being an overlord and at the same time a kind person, elements both needed to form great teams which not only perform exceedingly but are also strongly engaged and self-motivated. Leaders who combine empathy with authority have the ability to relate to their team as an individual while ensuring the team is still respectful and results driven.
The cornerstone of leadership with empathy is the ability to know the feelings of others and to resonate with them. With empathy, leaders are able to approach a situation contextually, understanding the emotive and cognitive aspects that drive their team’s behavior, and offering assistance and mentorship as necessary. This emotional intelligence is even more important today because there is greater competition at the workplace and employees are increasingly being expected to deliver better results. Leaders with empathy understand that the people they lead are not just workers, they are human beings with personal issues, hopes, and feelings. Therefore, leaders have to build an atmosphere of strength by providing support, encouragement, and compassion, making individuals feel important.
Nevertheless, caring and being concerned about one’s employees is not enough. In business, the leaders should be willing to make tough calls, set limits and ensure completion of given tasks. This is where leadership earns authority. In fact, authority in leadership is not about giving orders and being the boss, but about earning the trust leaders need to fulfill their responsibilities, which includes articulating clear plans and obtaining buy-in. An authoritative leader is a leader that is revered for their exceptional strength in timing, experience, and command. They are Australians who show decisiveness by making the necessary choices that serve both their organization and its employees. But the most successful leaders score their points by not thinking from a power perspective alone or from a technical standpoint, but they use their power in a multifaceted manner where they bring in compassion and toughness simultaneously to realize the value for their people.
Empathy and authority are a must in guiding leaders but knowing when to serve which role is half the battle won for them. More often than not, these two traits go hand in hand. Say, for example, a person is serving as a leader, and they notice that one of the employees of their team is having a tough time with a personal issue which is translating into poor performance during work. They could have easily reprimanded that employee for failing to meet the set standards for when expectations are met with, but that would have been mistaken leadership. In contrast to that, a leader who is empathetic will invest time in identifying the root of the problem, listen and understand the matter, and then be willing to assist the employee in resolving it. Not only does this help the individual, but also fosters a stronger bond between the different parts of the team. However, this issue cannot be helped via the previously explored means of empathy if performance keeps deteriorating. At some point, the leader is required to exercise their authority to explain the standards to be met, define the limits to be maintained, and take ownership of the team member’s behavior. The combination of these two extremes makes sure that the leader is kind but firm.
The ability to provide empathy while still exhibiting authority is crucial in a crisis, high-stress situation, or an emergency. During such situations like great upheaval within the organization, market challenges, or big personal issues of some members of the team, it is very comforting for followers to see a leader who is empathetic. A great leader will link and connect with their employees while also reassuring them and listening to their worries and fears, thus building trust and stability. Team members will be ever-ready up to the utmost advantage so as to try to achieve their aimed-results with such emotional assistance. However, at the same time, during these any times leaders are also expected to provide authority by exercising decision-making which enhances the organization’s ability to withstand the challenges. Even in the most trying circumstances a leader needs to formulate plans in order to cut costs, reorganization of teams, setting new objectives and goals so as to promote organizational growth and survival.
If I can build genuine relationships with my clients, they will pray for and respect me. Empathy and authority combined with managing teams are necessary in forming, nurturing, and maturing relationships with clients, other stakeholders, and key partners. A leader who demonstrates such capabilities can get clients and partners engaged. It is necessary for leaders to understand their needs and concerns and how best to serve them. In business, such needs will have to be addressed meaningfully by devising appropriate solutions. On the other hand, they have to tape leaders with required authority, persuading them to agree to a solution that also points to the organizational values and targets. Such joined impositions of authority and empathy create a situation that is good for the partners’ and the company’s interests and for the company’s performance.
Good leaders, who have both empathy and authority, also develop psychological safety in their teams. According to experts on the Psychology of Leadership, psychological safety describes a person’s perception that he will not be punished or shamed for voicing ideas, questions, or concerns, or for making mistakes. When leaders foster empathy, this gives team members permission to express their opinion and take risks. Such empathy makes team members feel that their concerns are heard and addressed, which promotes communication and creativity. In the same way, the leader’s executive powers make it clear that the team has goals to achieve and is accountable for performance. This combination of empathy and leadership authority allows the teams to work well together, be innovative and target driven, whilst maintaining confidence in and respect for each other.
Expectations arising out of a stereotype often frown upon women leaders exhibiting empathy. This is not, however, the case for Nooyi who believed that female leaders must be authoritarian and empathetic and went on to redefine the rules of business leadership. Just as Ardern did during the horrific Christchurch mosque shootings and the coronavirus pandemic, Nooyi was compassionate and bold as well focusing on striking a delicate work-life balance while always putting the companies interests above her own. She was always about the right people for the job, which is how she became the CEO of PepsiCo, leading the company on a number of bold fronts. She, alongside Ardern, have shown the world what an empathy fostering, authoritative, and business-oriented woman can achieve. Both of them have proven that the notion of being compassionate and strong are two sides of the same coin and have taken decisive measures to fight for their cause, which later earned them recognition around the globe.
Future Authors are molded by the emotions accompanied by empathy and authority. Leaders give their followers something much more considerate as they understand that leadership isn’t about bragging or being bold, it’s about possessing compassion, strength in character, and having the ability to take charge and own up to responsibilities. By being empathetic, these leaders foster an atmosphere where team members can develop and grow, while, by being authoritative, they make sure that there is clear expectation and paths available for growth. The capacity to reconcile these two aspects encourages the culture of leadership development, whereby people are nurtured to assume leadership positions.
Putting it all together, authority and empathy are not in opposition to each other; they are two sides of the same coin, and once properly and precisely blended, the results are effective leadership. Great leaders appreciate that their key differentiating factor lies in their ability to relate with people emotionally and to engage in difficult deliberations with a sense of self-assurance. Particularly, women leaders are on a different league upending the redefine leadership because they have been able to show humility and authority co-existing in a manner that earns trust, encourages partnerships and ultimately exerts. Management of these qualities of leadership great significance for both individuals and organizations, as leaders establish conditions in which people want to work, are engaged and are willing to bestow maximum efforts. The amalgamation of these qualities is not the most favorable of things but that’s the essence that defines great leadership and its a trait that will sustain and advance of business and the organizations within the international context.
