This is an Encore Episode of #WorkTrends
Sponsored by: Alpha Dental
When it comes to your team, is there anything more crucial than truly seeing them? As a leader, that means stepping into their shoes. We call this empathetic leadership.
Empathetic leaders build a workplace where everyone feels heard, valued, and understood. And when that happens? Watch productivity soar. Employees become more engaged, more committed, and more invested in your company’s success.
A recent Dell Technologies study found that empathetic cultures are the key to thriving in today’s flexible work environment. Leaders need to prioritize people and provide the technology they need to innovate.
Our Guest: Jennifer Saavedra
On our latest #WorkTrends Podcast, I spoke with Jennifer Saavedra, Chief Human Resources Officer at Dell Technologies. She leads the company’s Global Human Resources and Facilities through the dynamic lens of culture and, most importantly, people. She has a doctorate in Industrial and Organizational Behavior from Tulane University. Jennifer has also served on the executive boards for many of Dell Technologies’ employee resource groups and is currently the executive sponsor for the Black Networking Alliance.
Her work helps us understand the psychology of human behavior so that individuals and organizations alike can be their best.
Jennifer says the last two years have redefined work:
One of the things at Dell Technologies that we’re really focused on is defining work as an outcome, not as a specific time and place. We know that employees value freedom and flexibility, and it’s really about helping everybody make an impact.” She says, “not every individual has the same way they work or the same needs. And we have a history of doing this. At Dell, we’ve been doing this for over ten years.
Leadership Flexibility is Key
Everybody wants to know what the “new normal” will look like. After two years of the global pandemic, Jennifer says Dell polled their team members on the company’s practice of hybrid work. A notable 86% of their team members said they feel Dell is leading the way. The current world of work is an opportunity to make things more inclusive.
It’s a great equalizer. We have learned a lot about how to be inclusive and make things more accessible to people. And keeping an eye on the partnership between human resources, the business needs, our team members, facilities, and IT, I think these are things that give us a lot of hope and a lot of promise.
What the Data Says
Success is a goal shared by all, from employees to executive leadership. Employees need their companies to be there and support them. While the future of work develops and takes form, it needs to be understood that agility will play a key factor. As new ideas and possibilities for work come to light, they should be carefully considered. An astounding 91% of Dell’s team members reported that they could easily adapt to the work preferences of others, whether it’s timezone, means of communication, or other.
As other companies are thinking about building their strategy, it’s really important to look at the business needs. How does the work need to get done, and how can you consider personal choice? I think you need to assess roles. Some roles need to be done in certain locations or co-located. Once you know that, you can then support your team members by understanding what works best for them.
To Learn More about Empathetic Leadership
Learn more about empathetic leadership and putting people front and center with Dell’s Breakthrough Study.
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