Champions Integrate Drive and Empathy

Question your nature if the recent earthquakes in Haiti and Chile didn’t move you. Millions of lives got rocked from those tragedies and the pictures are gut wrenching. Also gut wrenching is seeing some of my friends’ lives get tough due to recent layoffs. It seems like each day presents new challenges and each business day gets harder.

Today, our leaders are called to be compassionate and driven. Our employees need to feel appreciated, or at least let down easily, and our businesses have to reach new heights despite the obstacles. A question I’ve debated with myself and with others is how to balance drive and empathy. How do I show enough compassion and still I apply the performance pressure? My dilemma is that it’s Sunday night and I’m preparing for my Monday morning at work, but my mind is on Chili.

Do I forcefully transition? If so, how? If not, do I show up unprepared for another challenging day with big demands at the office?

Before answering that question, I believe there are leaders who are naturally empathetic and leaders who are naturally driven.  But I believe champions are both—and both are critical for success.

Champions have a sensational drive for success and an ability to truly connect emotionally with others. Their compassion doesn’t impede their business acumen. Nor does their business acumen impede their compassion. Since a champion is self-aware, they know their natural tendencies and where they need to compensate for their lack of skills. If empathy is natural for the champion, they will compensate for balance and emphasize drive. If a champion is more naturally driven and less empathetic, they will compensate by emphasizing compassion.

My concern for the Chileans shouldn’t keep me from being prepared for my Monday. And my Monday shouldn’t desensitize me to the Chileans.

Below are a few points to consider as you work to better integrate your business drive and empathy as a leader:

1. Know your natural tendencies. Are your natural tendencies more for empathy or for drive?
2. Prepare to compensate the other attribute by being intentional in your actions in order to capture a healthy balance. Too much empathy can stifle progress, and too much drive can create a trail of people debris behind you. Realize that both traits are important.
3. Take a little more time before you react. Try not to always respond at your first notion. Consider [taking] a pause and allow things to soak in a little more.
4. Help others understand the reasoning behind your reaction or position—whether empathetic or direct. Explaining the reasoning helps others overcome their tendency to take things personally.
5. Explain your motives. Explaining your motives not only helps others realize you’re not completely insensitive, or overly sensitive for you empathetic leaders, but explaining your motives holds you accountable for making sure your motives are right.

Champions know in their heart of hearts that the world – in general and in business – is not black and white.  They are keenly aware that a black and white approach will fall short of the results and guiding principles they are committed to. They must be able to integrate their keen business drive with a deep appreciation for the people with whom they work and the events occurring in the world that impact all of us.

Onward!

Tags: champions, compassion and drive, Drive for results, Empathy, Leadership skills, OrganizationalChampions, tragedy and leadership