Leader – Cutthroat or Empathic

Reading Time: 4 minutes

 

There are a number of leaders who believe that being cutthroat helps to get better results. Maybe, they think that a cutthroat pressure-cooker culture assures people to perform better. I disagree with their thinking and belief. Probably, this is the impact of Screens, TV shows, and Movies on the cutthroat leaders (lol).

As far as I observed, the only thing I found is that cutthroat business culture effects negatively to a company. I’m not alone saying this, studies and surveys that take place year after year also say that employee in a cutthroat culture face 50% more health problems. People in cutthroat business culture is supposed to be tired and stressed and hence less productive. Unfortunately, I was also a part of such an organization.

It is very obvious that in a company/organization where employees are less productive, less engaged, stressed, and not fit, will result in lower earnings with higher turnover. If you also have a cutthroat leader or boss, then I’m sure, it is affecting your health negatively. I’ll not say you to take action, it’s totally up to you. Here are some marks you could see in a cutthroat environment.

1. Overworking of people: Cutthroat leaders or bosses force their employees to overwork for getting better results. But contrarily it leads to the bad performance by the employees. Overworking employees is counterproductive. Research from Stanford shows that the productivity of a person decreases with a greater slope when the working hours in a week exceeds 50 hours, and it becomes almost nil if workweek cross 55 hours.
2. Nothing on the name of Empathy: Empathy is a great factor that really matters. To make an organization and its employees focused and fruitful, it is required for the boss to involve in the problems of its employees, to have a look at how employees are doing? A leader or a boss must be caring towards their employees and colleagues. More than 50% of the people do not stay in an organization because of cutthroat leaders. Most of the successful companies ensure that their manager must know how to balance being professional with being human. It’s extremely hard to work for someone for eight-plus hours a day when they do not care about anything and never personally involve themselves in any problem.
3. Cutthroat leaders don’t listen: If a leader in a company pays attention to its employees and support them then the performance improves. When a leader supports its employees, they dare to take risks and do experiments that give better outcomes. While cutthroat leaders don’t listen and never converse with employees informally, they rarely ask questions, give suggestions, nothing. They just like the conversation has no mean after reports, such an environment suck.
4. No extra activities except the job role provided: Some of the most successful companies on the earth mandates that employees spend a part of the time doing “how they believe will benefit the company”. These lead to some fruitful results to the company. In every organization, there are a few potential and talented employees that are passionate about something and if they get the support, they might do something great. However, cutthroat leaders have a kind of fear within them that if they will support the employees for something that employee is passionate about, he/she will leave the job or become less productive. Studies suggest that a person pursuing their passion are five times more efficient on the job than the normal.
5. The scarcity of helping nature: Cutthroat leaders think that if a problem is created by a colleague or employee, then he/she is only responsible for the problem. Instead of helping an employee, cutthroat leaders don’t consider it their responsibility. However, in the research, it is found that managers who support and involve in the problems of their employee tend to be more productive in an organization.

Some other marks that might be seen in a cutthroat environment are there is no socializing and no fun in the organization, numerous crazy rules, no special treatment or rewards for the one who do their job well that leads them being demotivated.

How to make an Organization more Productive

To make an organization more productive, look at the root cause i.e., employees and other staff of an organization. If the staff and the employees will be stress-free, physically & mentally fit, they will lead the organization to be more productive. Only the organization which does not have a cutthroat leader can stand out. Here are some steps one can take to get better results-

1. Be empathetic: Employees in an organization with a cutthroat environment are likely to have negative emotions in their brain. These negative emotions affect the health and happiness of the employee which decreases the efficiency of employees. As a leader, it’s up to you how your employees feel. So, for a leader, it is mandatory to be empathetic that leaves a positive impact on the employees, and hence they help the organization to be productive.
2. Be helping: Great leaders possess some qualities in which first and foremost that will be worth to mention is “great leaders are helping in nature”. They help their employees in their problems or queries. A good leader always tries to be helpful and friendly to employees. It helps to develop an effective workplace.

Some other things that are commonly found in a productive organization are the understandings between the employees and manager, responsibilities, and potential among employees.

Final Words to Conclude

What if you are also facing a cutthroat leader? Would you like to continue your job? Well, I can’t answer it for you. All I can say is that it is negatively affecting you, your health and hence your life. I’ll recommend you that if you find some better opportunities then you can think to leave, otherwise, if you think you cannot get more than this (in terms of money), sticking to the place will be better for you until you do not have any other and better option.

Apart from this, I would like to appeal all the cutthroat leaders that if you’re thinking, being cutthroat leads to good results then please try to be empathic once. I assure you’ll get better or most probably best results. Things will be in the flow, it will be as easy as it was never been.