“A lot of people got promoted into management positions because they were very self-interested—they have been pursuing their own goals and ambitions—so it rewards folks who may not be as empathetic….While managers are often promoted as recognition of their job performance, individual accomplishments are rarely a strong indicator of managerial abilities. In recent years, and especially during the pandemic, there has been a broader recognition of the importance of demonstrating empathy as a manager. According to a recent study conducted by EY Consulting, 90% of American workers equate empathetic leadership with higher job satisfaction, 88% say it builds employee loyalty, and 79% agree that it reduces turnover. “The best managers are people who genuinely care about the people they work with, and [who] report to them,” says Grossman. “It’s not just lip service, it’s not just rhetoric; they actually care about the people, how happy they are, about their professional development, and they invest the time and energy to help folks on their team…”
