The ‘wounded masculine’ is dominating the workplace. What’s the antidote?

Why effective leaders need empathy  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌   ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

TODAY'S NEWS. TOMORROW'S INSIGHTS. A daily newsletter from McKinsey & Company   Edited by Gwyn Herbein   Assistant Managing Editor, Atlanta Lead like a girl The news • Hit me in the feels. Empathy—showing genuine concern for employees' lives—is becoming one of the trendiest skills in management. As companies try to help workers counteract the stress and burnout of the past two years, empathetic leadership is gaining traction in management training programs. Some senior leaders think that acknowledging workers' perspectives and struggles leads to higher engagement and productivity. Others worry that an outsize focus on feelings may inhibit constructive feedback and growth. [WSJ] • The power of emojis. Workplace hierarchies aren't as visible in remote work settings, so today's managers can't exercise authority solely on the basis of their formal roles. Emojis and GIFs can serve a higher purpose in the hybrid environment. Workers who use collaborative tech platforms to make emotional connections can acquire relational power, allowing them to influence others regardless of job title. Managers might consider using technology platforms to show off their personalities and share more casual information with teams. [MITSloan] "In the midst of the Great Resignation crisis, it's actually more feminine traits—like intuition and empathy—that are becoming critical." Our insights • The 'wounded masculine.' Workplaces are collapsing to the "wounded masculine—a world of competition over collaboration and power over people," says former Procter & Gamble marketing executive Dalia Feldheim. Disengaged workers cost companies $7 trillion in lost productivity worldwide. But combining positive masculine traits, like thinking strategically, with positive feminine traits, like passion, empathy, and teamwork, can help managers combat workplace unhappiness, Feldheim suggests. • Embracing 'feminine' leadership. At a time of widespread attrition and burnout, it's more important than ever for leaders to embrace conventionally feminine traits, shares Feldheim, author of Dare to Lead like a Girl: How to Survive and Thrive in the Corporate Jungle. Research shows that women and men are equally effective as leaders, yet women occupy fewer leadership roles. Learn five leadership areas that women excel at, and see how Feldheim's "5P" leadership model can increase the effectiveness of all leaders, regardless of gender. Explore a new leadership model Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here. Or send us feedback — we'd love to hear from you. Follow our thinking This email contains information about McKinsey's research, insights, services, or events. By opening our emails or clicking on links, you agree to our use of cookies and web tracking technology. For more information on how we use and protect your information, please review our privacy policy. You received this email because you subscribed to the On Point newsletter. Manage subscriptions | Unsubscribe Copyright © 2022 | McKinsey & Company, 3 World Trade Center, 175 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007