Mind Spark # 10 - Perspective-Taking: The Underrated Leadership Superpower I Misunderstood Too

Inspired by Palena Neale’s article in Harvard Business Review, "Empathy Is a Non-Negotiable Leadership Skill. Here’s How to Practice It.”

“ Perspective-taking is about gathering information to understand what is true for someone without feeling their feelings."

Today, I came across a LinkedIn post about empathy that resonated with me. I'm still digesting the article's key takeaways and practical tips. But what truly hit me is that I’ve misunderstood perspective-taking for a while. You may have heard this saying: “Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.” That’s precisely what I’ve been doing when navigating a colleague’s or team member’s challenges, but I’m beginning to see that it might not be the whole picture.

Perspective-taking involves more than imagining how we would feel in another person's situation. It requires understanding the situation from their standpoint, considering their context, pressures, and beliefs. If we impose our reactions, we fail to grasp their perspectives. 

It’s not just about feeling with someone but about understanding them. Therefore, the real perspective-taking questions should be, “How do they feel in this situation? What matters to them? What is their point of view?” To truly practice it, we must set aside our lens and remove the “I” from the equation.

How to practice perspective-taking:

• Encourage sharing with open-ended questions. The questions similar to those listed above could encourage others to share openly.

• Active listening. Pay attention to what the other person is saying and what is not. Don’t think ahead to your response or rush to offer a solution.

• Recognize different perspectives.  Even if we don't entirely agree, accept that their viewpoint is genuine and significant to them.

With experience in perspective-taking, we can fully understand the emotions and motivations behind our actions. This skill is essential for effective communication, conflict resolution, and genuinely motivating teams. Most importantly, it builds trust. When people feel acknowledged, listened to, and truly understood, they are more inclined to participate, collaborate, develop, and grow.

How do you intentionally practice perspective-taking as a leader?

#Leadership #Empathy #PerspectiveTaking #Communication

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