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"Brain damage" is a rather extreme way of putting this. It's a slight decrease in empathy. Which sounds bad, but makes perfect sense. Empathetic people make ter
by Houshalter 9y ago
"Brain damage" is a rather extreme way of putting this. It's a slight decrease in empathy. Which sounds bad, but makes perfect sense. Empathetic people make terrible leaders. They get taken advantage of. They seek approval from others instead of making what they think is the best decision. They have trouble saying "no." They are indecisive when a decision is controversial and might upset some people.
I know this because I think I am an overly empathetic person, and I know I make a terrible leader. Even watching shows like the West Wing stresses me out a bit and I don't envy people who have to make hard decisions.
- ErikVandeWater 9y agoMight the best leader be the empathetic leader who recognizes and understands others' perspectives with enough self-control to not give in to others emotions?
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- brlewis 9y agoI don't think reducing empathy would improve leadership. Ideally you'd expand your empathy to people you aren't directly interacting with. For example, the difficult decision of firing a problem employee is made more difficult by empathy for that employee, but made easier by empathy for affected coworkers and customers.
- zepto 9y agoThe downsides you speak of are not caused by being empathetic. They are caused by not having developed skills in setting boundaries. Being worried about upsetting people isn't a feature of empathy. It's a feature of a lack of perspective.