There has been much talk about the change in the way we work. Many workers left their offices during the pandemic and have not returned. We recently surveyed our clients and find employees have embraced both hybrid and work from home opportunities and value the flexibility as much as compensation. We asked what they considered their best source of motivation at work and found:
- 32% Flexible work hours
- 32% Pay increase
- 14% Job security
Leadership must also change to adapt to a workforce that includes employees that are no longer located within walking distance. There are many attributes that contribute to effective leadership but research shows that EMPATHY is the most important. (https://www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/09/19/empathy-is-the-most-important-leadership-skill-according-to-research/?sh=1d9fabd63dc5)
Most of our waking hours are spent working. If there are stress and imbalance, it affects health, performance, sleep, satisfaction, engagement and overall quality of life both at home and at work. A quick summary of people who reported their leaders are empathetic were:
- 61% report they are able to be more innovative
- 76% report they are more engaged
- 86% reported they are able to successfully integrate personal, family and work obligations
Whether you are leading from down the hall, down the street or across the country, to get the best from your team, empathy is required.
