Empathy and Assertiveness: The Key to Confident Leadership

You know the story about the swan? She looks graceful and calm up top, but underneath her legs are powering away. This is the most common analogy managers share with me when asked to describe their leadership experience and for good reason – they’ve got a lot on their plate.

The Swan Story: A Common Leadership Experience 

I recently worked with one such swan, let’s call her Natalie, who was leading a big team while holding down a substantial agency role.

“You’re killing it!” I said.

She paused, glanced down, and with a weary smile, confessed, “Honestly, I feel like I’m just making it up as I go and pretending to be a manager.”

Nat had climbed the ranks quickly, propelled by her talent and drive. Yet, despite her success, she hadn’t received any formal management training and like many of us in leadership positions, she felt like she was figuring it out as she went and imposter in her role.

“It’s hard,” she admitted, “I often feel like I’m floundering. There are so many things I know I need to do, but I just don’t know how.” This candid admission was not a sign of weakness but a crucial step in her journey towards becoming a more confident and effective leader.

When we dug a little deeper, it became clear that there were some important feedback conversations Natalie needed to have with her team, but they felt a little scary.

Navigating Tough Conversations

It was clear that there were some issues Natalie knew she had to address with an older and quite outspoken team member. She didn’t want to rock the boat or create more work for herself as a result, and so put this off.

Together, as part of the Management Collective program she was enrolled in, we mapped out the various feedback conversations needed and how to have these in a way that was clear but also authentic to her leadership style.

Hot Tip: When facing difficult conversations, prepare by mapping out key points and practice delivering them with empathy and assertiveness. This ensures clarity and maintains your leadership authenticity.

By developing a strategy that allows you to deliver feedback with both clarity and compassion and by preparing key points and practicing delivery, leaders are able to approach these conversations with a balance of empathy and assertiveness.

For Natalie, this preparation ensured that her feedback was not just heard but also respected. As a result, she began to see a positive shift in team dynamics and performance, proving that addressing feedback issues head-on can lead to significant improvements in leadership effectiveness.

Balancing Assertiveness with Empathy

Natalie learned to strike a balance between being assertive and empathetic, which not only made her feel hella confident but also earned her the respect of her team. Over the 6 weeks of the leadership program, Natalie transformed. The once hesitant ‘swan’ started making decisive, well-informed decisions that positively impacted her team’s performance and morale.

By the end of the program, Natalie was no longer ‘pretending’ to be a manager. She was the manager.

If Natalie’s journey resonates with you, or if you’re a manager looking to step up your game, the Management Collective is designed just for you.

Ready to Lead with Confidence?

The Management Collective is a place where you can learn, grow, and transform into the leader you are meant to be—without feeling like you’re just paddling to stay afloat. Each cohort is limited to approximately 8 spots because we focus intensely on each participant’s growth.

Hot Tip: Invest in your leadership skills through structured programs that resonate, like the Management Collective. This not only boosts your confidence but has the potential to supercharge your team’s performance, morale and communication.

If you’re ready to stop paddling and become the leader you’ve always aspired to be, click here to get the low-down about Management Collective.

Looking for more helpful tips on effective feedback techniques or communication strategies then, check out the Packed Lunch Club which is designed to enhance your mindset, communication, and leadership skills over a series of engaging and interactive sessions.