“Great thinkers don’t harbor doubts because they’re impostors. They maintain doubts because they know we’re all partially blind and they’re committed to improving their sight.” – Adam Grant

I love that quote! It’s a good reminder that even the best thinkers know they don’t have all the answers. They’re always looking for ways to learn and grow. And that’s a big part of what empathetic leadership is all about: creating a space where your team feels safe to try new things, even if they might stumble along the way.  

Think of it like a coach who lets a player try a new move in the middle of a game, even if it means they might mess up. The coach gets it – mistakes are part of how we learn. By giving the player the green light to take a chance, they’re helping them add a new skill and become an even better player.

It’s the same in leadership. Empathetic leaders give their team the room to experiment and learn from their slip-ups. They’re there to guide and support, but they also let their team own their ideas and choices.

And guess what? This doesn’t just help individual team members grow, it supercharges the whole team! When people feel supported and know they can take chances, they’re more likely to think outside the box and come up with game-changing ideas. And when they know their leader has their back, that’s when real trust and respect kick in.

I’ve been there myself. I had a team that was wrestling with a big decision about which direction to go. It was tempting to just step in and say, “Hey, here’s what we’re gonna do.” But instead, I hung back and watched them work it out for a few weeks. It wasn’t always pretty, but they learned something super valuable: that slowing down, really listening to each other, and working together was their secret weapon. Sure, they had to set aside their egos for a bit, and there were some bumps and frustrations along the way, but it was worth it.

By the end, they didn’t just nail the decision, they became a way stronger team in the process.

So, here’s my takeaway: if you’re aiming for empathetic leadership, don’t freak out when your team makes mistakes. Just be there to help them learn from it and come back swinging even harder.

Remember, empathetic leadership isn’t about being a pushover or dodging tough conversations. It’s about building a team culture where trust, respect, and support are the name of the game.

Grant, A. (2016, June 6). Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know. Viking.