HR FOCUS

EMPATHY – A LESS VALUED LEADERSHIP COMPETENCY

RAJIV MISRA

R Square Consulting

Recently while reading an article, I underwent multiple emotions from disbelief to shock and finally to disgust. The article narrated the story of a company that sent a communication to a few hundred employees to attend an online talk on Covid 19. When the employees logged in, they could see a slide that simply read “Covid 19”. After 15 mins a junior member of the HR team logged in and said one sentence- “Due to Covid 19 you are fired” and logged off the call. I tried to put myself in the employees’ shoes and gauge the emotions which could be going through their minds during the wait and post the one-sentence firing. From despondency to depression, all of us have been in the grip of a range of emotions over the last year that has led us to be emotionally and psychologically drained. Whether it is anxiety about the present and future income or about how our loved ones are going to be impacted by the pandemic there is an undercurrent of uneasiness in the environment which is palpable. As human beings, we crave certainty and order in our lives, which mostly leads to our need for more and more information. To be asked to leave their jobs without any information about notice period details, severance pay, outplacement support, or benefits continuation must have been like being set adrift in a stormy sea with no lifejacket. The way the company chose to communicate this news through a junior HR team member said much more about the leadership of the company than its website, the vision document, or the values described in the employee handbook. Leadership is what is experienced by others and not what is talked about in various company documents. The incident made it clear that the company leadership lacked empathy, a critical, but oft undervalued competency. My discomfort was less with the decision of asking people to leave and more with the way it was done, with no respect shown to employees. We often come across a notion that a Leader can rally people around with charisma and drive. Empathy is not something that comes to our mind when we think of leaders. However, I feel that it is the most critical competency to be a great leader as leadership is about leading people and you cannot lead people if you do not understand what they are feeling and going through. It is a tough time for business and tough decisions need to be taken. So, if a tough decision means that a leader must ask people to leave, then it needs to be done. The question is, how do you communicate this decision to the affected team member?

As business owners, many of my SME clients have sought my suggestion on how to handle a situation of having to cut the workforce. So here are few suggestions on what the leader should do: • The first thing is to communicate transparently. Let the employees know the real situation and as far as cash flows are concerned and try to find a solution jointly. In case, you feel that the junior members of the team lack the maturity to contribute to the decision-making, call the mid and senior-level employees for this session.

• Look at layoffs as the last option. Is it possible to cut pay by 30% rather than asking 30% of the team to leave?

• If lay-offs must be done, the senior-most leader in the company should make the communication.

Give reasons, provide information about notice period, severance pay, possible time by when re-hire may be possible, outplacement support, etc. Please take their questions and answer them to the best of your ability. If people get abusive or vent, have the humility to accept that without showing any anger or discomfort. I was told a long time back by my senior in the army “People don’t remember what you told them, but they never forget how you made them feel”. If you as a leader make the people feel humiliated, small, and not valued, they will remember it for the rest of their lives. And they will talk about it to friends, acquaintances, and anyone who would care to listen. And in today’s hyperconnected world, they would also post it on social media, making an irreparable dent in your reputation as a Leader

and along with it long-term damage to the ability of your organization to attract talent in the future. As business leaders, as we go through these tough times, in addition to all the other leadership competencies which you will have to exhibit to get your company and your people through, it may be prudent to focus much more on Empathy, to ensure that the people in your organization experience you as a humane and caring leader.

FACTS

LEATHER FUNDAMENTALS

Leather is a long-lasting and flexible material made by tanning animal hides and skins. Cattle hide is the most used raw material. It can be manufactured on a variety of scales, from artisan to modern industrial. Leather production has been going on for over 7,000 years;[1] the earliest record of leather artefacts dates to 2200 BCE.

Top Grain Leather

The top layer of a hide is known as top grain leather. The leather hide is mechanically split into layers after it has been tanned but before it is finished. Top Grain is tough and long-lasting, with the "hallmarks of the road" like wrinkles, scars, bug bites, and other natural characteristics. The best portion of the hide is the top grain. The Split Hide is separated from the Top Grain and is used to manufacture suede and other leather products. Splits aren't as strong as Top Grain leather and aren't as excellent in quality. They're more prone to fading, stretching, and tearing. Split hides are used by some furniture producers on the sides and backs of furniture, where the customer is unlikely to touch or sit.

Full Grain and Corrected Grain Leathe

Full Grain leather is top grain leather that hasn't been buffed or polished, preserving the natural texture and grain. The trail's signatures, or markings, will stay on the hide. Stretch marks, scars, branding, bug bites, and other imperfections may be evident. The leather's original appearance and feel are kept. Most natural markings are lightly rubbed or sanded out with Corrected Grain leathers, and an artificial yet realistic-looking grain is embossed on the hide. Top grain leathers that have been corrected are still top grain leathers. They've been redesigned to have a more uniform feel and hue.

Leather for furniture

Only about a third of the world's hides are appropriate for furniture upholstery. Just around 5% of the supply matches the aesthetic characteristics necessary, thus whole hides with only minor flaws are necessary. While hides that will be chopped into smaller pieces and used for belts, shoes, and small leather products can have some natural markings and scars, hides that will be used for furniture must be more flawless. Because automotive leather hides must undergo considerable processing in order to meet durability and severe wear requirements, they are not as rare or valuable as hides used to produce sofas, loveseats, and chairs. Pure aniline, full grain semi aniline, or corrected/embossed leather is required for furniture.

Types of Leather Aniline

This is the most "organic" and "natural" sort of leather. This leather, also known as Pure Aniline or Full Aniline, has no protective covering. It hasn't been handled or processed in any way to change the natural grain, appearance, or feel of the hide. The most luxuriously soft feel of all the leather varieties is aniline, but it is more prone to fading, staining, and soiling. This is a good type of leather for someone who enjoys the smooth, natural feel of leather but also appreciates and values the distinctive natural markings. It's reasonable to assume that the furniture will only see light to moderate use.

Semi-Aniline

Although not as pure and natural as aniline leather, this type of leather has some of the same properties. Following aniline dyeing, the hides are sprayed or rubbed with a protective topcoat. To produce a two-tone or other effect, an additional color may be used as well. As with aniline leather, certain natural markings may show through the topcoat, making wrinkles, scars, and bites obvious. While semi-aniline leather is more protected than pure aniline leather and the color will likely be more uniform, it is still susceptible to fading, staining, and other problems. This is a fantastic sort of leather for a consumer who wants natural leather's suppleness and texture but will use the furniture frequently.

Pigmented

This is the toughest leather, but it isn't the most natural. Because the natural markings have usually been sanded or buffed away, this is the case. The hide is then embossed with an artificial grain. As a result, the grain and colouring are consistent, which some buyers prefer. In addition, a protective topcoat with colour is usually sprayed or rubbed into the surface. Adding this layer usually takes away part of the leather's natural softness and breathability. The colour of Pigmented leather may not be as deep and rich as Aniline leather, and it may not have the same sumptuous hand, but it is the most durable and cleanable. This is a good sort of leather for someone who is ready to forego some softness and natural texture in exchange for more functionality.

Nubuck

Nubuck is a soft, rich top grain leather with a small nap that has been softly buffed or sanded to give it a suede-like look. It's worth noting, though, that Nubuck is a top grain leather, which means it's more durable and high-quality than suede. Nubuck leather is a quality, natural substance that typically lacks a protective finish. It's prone to fading and smudging. This is a good sort of leather for someone looking for a one-of-a-kind, trendy, and really comfy leather that demands a little additional care and maintenance.