And we are not talking about thermometers or health conditions... we are talking about EMPATHIC LEADERSHIP. Of a genuine concern of companies for their employees. We are all eager to get back to work in Tourism... but do you know what the state of your company is? How are your teams really doing? Ready for the challenges?

Unfortunately, perhaps the answer from most companies and team "leaders" is: I have no idea... which is unfortunate. But we can still implement a change. And this is where EMPATHY will have even greater strength in effective and positive leadership.

A formal definition of Empathy is the ability to identify and understand the situation, feelings, and motives of others. It is our ability to recognize the concerns that other people have. Empathy means, "putting yourself in the other person's shoes" or "seeing things through another person's eyes."

Given such a simple definition, why does it become so difficult to practice? Physical distance does not mean social distance. And one of the greatest advantages of technologies is that they allow us to be connected. And in the uncertain and unstable times we live in, being empathic leaders should be our duty to our teams, to our colleagues, to the company, and even to ourselves. Fear, frustration, irritability, insecurity, are some of the feelings that trouble us. We need someone to tell us that everything is going to be alright. That Tourism will come back and that step by step we will recover one of the most important industries of the national economy. And no illusions: leaders will be judged by how they reacted during this historic moment. And the future of a company lies in the quality of its leaders and in its culture.

Leading with empathy is not an innate ability. Even if you have a high emotional intelligence quotient, you may need some guidance on how to get started.

Here are some tips that we suggest you start practicing right away:

1. Practice active listening. Take a personal interest in people. Show people that you care and that you are genuinely curious about their lives. Ask them questions about their hobbies, their challenges, their families, their aspirations.

You can even use the Empathy Map, as a tool to genuinely get to know those on your side.

2. Be present 100%. Pay your full attention at the moment. Be accessible by different means and make sure your teams know how to reach you.

3. Sense of belonging and involvement. Employees need to be part of the solution, not a problem. Keep them updated on the status of the company and try to understand how everyone can help in its recovery and reopening. Listen to their ideas and suggestions. Develop open and honest sharing spaces.

4. Don't just talk about work. Try to maintain some office, team routines, even from a distance. If you used to have coffee together after lunch, keep that coffee virtual, or at the end of the day. Cultivate a positive and healthy company culture, with a two-way line of communication.

5. Adopt innovative solutions. To be an empathetic leader, you need to have different attitudes than other leaders usually have. Be creative and foster creativity.

6. Admit your weaknesses, learn to deal with your emotions, and ask for help when necessary. Leaders are human. And a request for help is not a sign of weakness, but of intelligence, of being part of a team that complements each other.

Uncertain times require unparalleled leaders. Show your humanity with true empathetic leadership. Empathy will not only motivate your team through the current moment but also help you deal with your own conflicting feelings and get everyone ready for the future and the return of Tourism.