October Hot Take: Scary Leaders…Or Scared Leaders?

The Empathy Edge

Halloween is just around the corner, and the ghouls, goblins, and…gladiators will be out in full force, along with spooky music, haunted houses, chills, and thrills. While humans have a weird desire to scare ourselves for our amusement, fear and horror in the workplace is far less desirable. And nothing can strike more fear into our hearts than scary bosses.

But are those leaders scary...or scared?

Today, I discuss how fear is detrimental for your team and how elevated perceived stress levels cause poor cognition. I also talk about why embracing empathy and building strong connections with your team while still maintaining high accountability and performance expectations will allow your team to rise to the challenge. Listen in for some scary statistics, but also the light around the dark corner that waits for those of us who are willing to take the next steps.

To access the episode transcript, please search for the episode title at www.TheEmpathyEdge.com

Key Takeaways:

• Studies show that perceived stress can cause lower cognitive scores and a faster rate of cognitive decline.
• Be vulnerable in your journey to be a more empathetic leader - while still expecting high performance and holding people accountable - people will rise to the challenge.
• Examine your own emotional triggers and backstory. Be willing to interrogate yourself with a curious mind. Scaring your people won’t help, so stop trying to do so and understand why you were trying to in the first place.

"Most scary or ineffective leaders have no self-awareness about how poorly they come across and how much psychological torture they influence. And that's because their negative behavior is almost always a result of their own fears." — Maria Ross

Episode References:

• CNN: Stress May Lead to Lower Cognitive Function, Study Finds
• More on Arno Michaelis
• Buy the book and download a free chapter sneak peek: http://www.TheEmpathyDilemma.com

From Our Partner:

SparkEffect partners with organizations to unlock the full potential of their greatest

asset: their people. Through their tailored assessments and expert coaching at every level, SparkEffect helps organizations manage change, sustain growth, and chart a path to a brighter future.

Go to sparkeffect.com/edge now and download your complimentary Professional and Organizational Alignment Review today.

Connect with Maria:

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