Empathy is key
When I analyzed a large number of speeches by leaders who addressed their staff in recent times, the directive nature came to the fore strongly. Straight to the point about the impact of the crisis and what measures are going to be taken. The leaders who stand out head and shoulders and positively above all? Those are people like Marriot CEO Arne Sorenson , who started by showing his empathy. Starting by showing compassion for all his colleagues who are sitting at home in fear and who in their (immediate) environment may have already seen people get sick or die.
In my opinion, this is where you really separate the wheat from the chaff. The leaders from the losers. In addition to the business side of the story, also clearly show empathy for the personal situation of employees. Give them the feeling that you see them as part of the solution, instead of the problem. That they are the heroes with whom you tackle the crisis. And that you understand that this sometimes goes differently at a distance in a home situation than you expect in the office.
This is something leaders often don't do by default, but it can transform employees' frustration and lost hope into renewed trust and fighting spirit.
Unless time difference is an obstacle, I always advise france telegram data to speak live. This is instead of recording a message, as this comes across much more authentically. Even though I advised in a previous article to turn the camera off by default, when showing empathy, 'rich media' (video, audio) is essential.
A beautiful study among power women like Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Christine Lagarde and Melinda Gates shows that their voice is the most powerful tool to show empathy. Especially articulation, intonation and speed are crucial in this, especially on a virtual level.
This is something I often see people forget to practice, while it can really make a difference. Record the speech a few times in advance and analyze for yourself what speed and pitch do, in terms of impact on the listener. Especially because everyone is now sitting with their nose in your story, instead of in the back of a large room.
Also read: Jan Tjerk Boonstra: “If you can make your employees flourish, you are doing great.
