Empathy for Academic Leaders -- Meet the Moment, June 19, 2022

​About a year ago, we asked Academic Leaders to identify the leadership traits that were most essential in June 2021. The answers were clear--almost every respondent chose both “Communicative” and “Empathetic” as one of their top three choices.

When we asked the question again, this time with the top eleven options from last year’s Pulse, the same two traits came out on top.

​Once again, Academic Leaders identified empathy as a trait they need to steer their schools in the current moment. A key element of empathy is listening to understand, a type of listening that requires compassion and curiosity on the part of the hearer. 

Empathetic leaders pay attention to the individual with whom they are speaking. They listen for what is not being said as much as for what is spoken. They ask questions to prompt the speaker to elaborate and probe for deeper meaning. 

When listening to develop empathy, leaders use strategies such as summarizing key points to check that their understandings are correct or asking clarifying questions. Empathetic listeners are patient; they understand that the speaker is processing while talking and therefore may make contradictory statements or evolve their own understanding. 

Effective communication requires empathetic listening. When Academic Leaders are able to reflect goals and needs back to the stakeholder groups they serve, they create the foundation for authentic partnership and growth.