The past couple of weeks have been interesting to watch from the C-Suite. One CEO was arrested for allowing child porn and drug trafficking on their platform, while another was ousted by the board after a mere year in the role. And yet another executive was fired for releiving his bladder in a New York hotel lobby due to a urinary problem that his employer was fully aware of…
With that being said, it seems that empathy and overall soft skills are still hugely important as we interface with executives facing a variety of situations and challenges. Recruiting executives that are the right fit for your team is akin to finding the proverbial needle in a haystack. I was reading an article the other day where an executive shared that she was so over-worked that it impacted her sleep and she developed a drinking habit.
The case scenarios executives face can run the gamut, and flexibility and genuine empathy is key. When you are considering adding someone to your leadership team, asking these five questions can help you identify emotionally intelligent empathetic professionals that are worth their weight in gold.
1.Can you discuss a time when you had to deliver difficult news to your team or a colleague? How did you approach the conversation to ensure it was handled with sensitivity and empathy?
2. How do you typically handle unexpected changes or setbacks?
Can you describe a specific instance where your emotional intelligence helped you navigate change successfully?
3. How do you build trust with your team members and other stakeholders? Can you share an example of a time when your efforts to build trust paid off in a significant way?
4. Can you share an example of when you had to put yourself in a colleague’s or customer’s shoes to understand their perspective?
How did this impact your actions or decisions?
5. Tell me about a conflict within your team that you had to resolve.** What strategies did you use to address it, ensuring all parties felt heard and respected?
Empathy is a key trait that allows leaders to understand and connect with their employees on a deeper level, which in turn leads to higher levels of employee engagement and job satisfaction. When employees feel that their leaders genuinely care about their well-being and understand their needs and concerns, they are more likely to be motivated and productive in their roles.
Additionally, empathetic high EQ executives are better equipped to navigate complex relationships and resolve conflicts within the organization. By being able to see things from others’ perspectives and recognize the emotions involved in a situation. The questions provided is a good start to hiring executives with heart.
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We welcome assisting you with your internal leadership opportunities. Do not hesitate in reaching out here. Some of the greatest breakthroughs happen in times like these. If your organization wants to hire results oriented compassionate leaders then our search firm is for you. If you are a leader passively entertaining new opportunities, feel free connect with us. We would love to hear from you.. Let’s start this exciting journey together.
