How To Balance Professionalism And Empathy In Difficult Times

Tuesday, 13 August 2024, 7:17 am
Article: Hugh Grant

You probably see Pinterest-perfect homes and Instagram-worthy family photos online. These images are great for inspiration for home renovations and your next family portrait session. However, it would be naïve to think this is everyone’s reality. Injury, illness, loss of life and property are just a few examples of how everyone goes through ups and downs. It could be a relatively simpler toothache or a much more severe house fire, but no one is immune to tragedy. Not even royalty or celebrities.

The same goes for people at work. They may put a smile on their face and show up at the office every morning. However, things might not be all hunky-dory. So many people face different difficulties and not everyone is open to sharing. The best thing to do is to just be kind, because you don’t know what battles someone might be facing. That said, you can be kind while staying professional.

1. Show You Care

Kind words are great, but actions can be even more impactful. If you find out about someone at work going through a tough patch, show them you care. Of course, you must be professional and not pry. Don’t be inquisitive and ask for details of a diagnosis or accident. Your coworker might share what they want when they are comfortable in doing so. Don’t fire up the office rumor mill with speculations about what you think may have happened.

You can respect a coworker’s privacy but still show compassion by sending a get well care package. Everyone can pool in for the gift or the HR department may have a budget for it. Depending on the situation, choose from online or local companies to deliver flowers or a warm meal. If it’s something requiring long term care or a large sum of funds, ask your coworker if you can set up a crowdfunding page for them.

2. Value Soft Skills

Even if someone is not going through an emergency, try to create a culture where soft skills like empathy, kindness, and respect are valued. They might be harder to calculate like years of experience or schooling. However, they can make a profound impact in your company. This culture usually starts at the top. Managers can have weekly check-ins with staff to see how they are doing. Not if they have the annual report ready, but how they are doing.

Top leadership can have an open-door policy and be accessible to employees. They should listen intently and try to express their empathy with words and actions. Of course, there should always be a good balance between professionalism and empathy. Employees shouldn’t also take the kind manager for granted. They shouldn’t fake illnesses or ask for unreasonable time off without having earned it.

3. Watch Out for Burn Out

There might be some employees on the verge of breakdown, but they might be too scared to lose their job. They keep pushing themselves until they snap. A good manager should try to prevent that from happening. At times when employees have taken time off because of some challenges with their health or at home, they try to overdo it to make up. This could backfire if the extra hours or stress adversely affects their health, and they are back at square one.

If you see a coworker or subordinate struggling, try to help them out. Without doing their entire job for them, try to cut them some slack. See which tasks are urgent and tackle them first. Help them prioritize their tasks, if needed. There may be other things that would be nice to have but can wait. Focusing on what matters most can make tasks feel less overwhelming.

Always keep your intentions in check. Are you genuinely concerned or are you offering only because everyone else is? You can offer support in many ways without overstepping. For instance, you can mention you love your therapist, which can plant the seeds for your coworker asking for her number in the future.

4. Respect Boundaries

If someone has lost a child or is going through a divorce, be there for them, but stay in your lane. A close family member or friend is often a better source of support and comfort than a coworker. You can still let them know that you are there if they need anything but don’t show up at their doorstep ready to clean their house. Always ask before paying any kind of visit, even when you’ve been to their house before.

Keeping those boundaries between work and private life is very important to some people. They want to keep those circles separate, and that is their prerogative. Even if you find out one coworker has been babysitting for a sick employee, don’t assume you can too. Everyone has different relationships with coworkers, and you cannot assume all are lumped into one category.

Once you have let your coworker know that you acknowledge and understand they are going through a rough patch, back off. Let them reach out to you as they come to terms with the situation. Too many texts and calls can be annoying for someone grappling with a curveball life has just thrown at them. Periodically check in without being intrusive and you will hopefully find some way to help. If not, rest easy. At least you tried. You can only control your efforts, not the outcome.

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