This is the “R U OK’ week and we, at S2M, we believe that the encouraging people to be empathetic in the workplace is of huge importance.

S2M has put together a few simple things you can do to foster empathy in your workplace.

1. Ensure your employees are not overworking

Always look for overworked signs in your employees. More often than not, these are the biggest causes of stress and anxiety.

Due to the current situation, it’s natural for people to put in extra hours at work but as a leader, you must ensure that your employees are able to balance their work life with social life. An easy way of doing this would be to take a few extra minutes, check whether they are able to handle their workload, and ask them how you can offer your help.

2. Empathize when someone is sharing details about their personal loss

Everyone faces a loss at some point in their life. It’s important to be kind to those who are going through something now. Friendships in workplaces matter. Be a good friend to your coworkers, listen to their stories and provide advice where necessary. It might also be a good idea to show that you are willing to help them. Hearing simple words can significantly help to elevate stress.

3. Infuse feedback from the employees

No matter how small the issue is, ask your employees about their opinions and feedback. Make them realize that their voice matters. Asking people for their perceptions increases the chance of them delivering excellent results.

4. Make emotional intelligence a part of your organizational values

EQ is as important as IQ. Understanding the reasons behind your employee’s actions can help to give you meaningful insights about what you can do to motivate them. Fostering emotional intelligence can help to build trust between the managers and the team members and can help the members to open up.

Showing empathy towards your team members is the key to team productivity an achieving goals! If you want to get involved with the “R U OK’ cause, feel free to checkout this.