Empathy … absolutely positively.

I have worked for a few empathetic leaders. Empathy helps create a connection of trust and dedication that otherwise cannot be duplicated. It inspires ordinary people to do extraordinary things.

In one case I was one of six people that took a kayak ride off of the roof of my company in a flood. It was a paint manufacturing company. We had 13 feet of water on the factory floor. Seven days after the flood we started the production line, put paint in a can, and shipped it. We were NOT commanded but we all believed it was just something we should do.

We did not walk through the fire but we did walk through the water. If there had been fire we would have walked through that too, if that is what it took to get back in business.

A couple of months later we had a flood party. The senior managers had a hero story about EVERY employee and gave us each a swimming trophy.

Other things can inspire but empathy is what gets people to believe from their heart. They truly feel appreciated and understood.