There’s a nuance between balancing emotions and conveying empathy as an HR professional. As the go-to for solutions, you are actively engaging with the challenges that employees face both professionally and personally, and if you are like me, you want to offer support in any way that you can. While this aspect is one of the most rewarding parts of the job of a People Leader, it is also one of the biggest things I fear I might screw up.
Absolutely! Balancing emotions and empathy is indeed a nuanced aspect of being an HR professional.
There are many times when there isn't a clear play to run. For me, fear sometimes creeps in when there is a good deal of gray area. I am grateful to have stellar advisors and folks like you Jennifer Paxton (her/hers) in my network that I can tap into for a new framework, methodology, or even a sanity check. Thank you for being such a vocal and accessible resource!
Truth! Caring that much is exactly how you know you're a great partner and leader. When the fear of screwing it up gets big, remember 1) "my intention is to support you as best I can" and 2) when (not if) I overstep or get it wrong, we can always reset and try again.🙂
SVP, Human Resources
6moI think it’s important to remember that showing empathy and being there for our employees is already a significant step in the right direction. No one expects us to be perfect, but our genuine efforts to SUPPORT and UNDERSTAND our employees speak volumes.