How to … Encourage empathetic leadership

Managers set the tone at work, which has a profound effect on employee productivity.

"A critical yet often overlooked factor in unlocking employee productivity is the extent to which employees feel secure enough in the workplace to be themselves, voice their ideas, and contribute to their organisation’s success. This is what we refer to as psychological safety," says Humsha Ramgobin, group chief human resources (HR) officer at Mediclinic. She advises:

Firms with high levels of psychological safety tend to perform better than competitors because employees are willing to take risks and work collaboratively;

Workers who feel they belong are more productive and experience less stress and are more likely to remain with the organisation;

Policies are not enough to create an inclusive workplace, the corporate culture must support and reflect inclusivity too;

Most employees prefer truly empathetic leaders who are interested in their concerns to another wellness programme; and

All leaders — junior to senior — should learn to lead inclusively.