FOCUS: 

This session will introduce staff to the AITSL Middle Leader's Enabling Dispositions, with a focus on Disposition 3: Empathy.

OVERVIEW:

Leaders with an empathic disposition have the ability to “…understand and share another person's feelings and emotions – to see things from the perspective of another and understand another's point of view”. Empathic leaders listen carefully and are sensitive to others expressed and unexpressed feelings.

There are four components to empathy:

1. Taking another’s perspective.
2. Setting aside any pre-judgments about others’ feelings and actions, for such prejudgments prevent careful listening. 
3. Recognising others’ expressed and unexpressed emotions.
4. Communicating the emotion that is seen in order to check the accuracy of the perception. 

Empathic educational leaders do not sacrifice their role-related responsibilities in the interest of being empathic. While their empathy enables them to learn more about, for example, how staff are experiencing aspects of their job, they may still need to follow their inquiries and checking with respectful critique of what has or has not been happening, and with collaborative planning of the next steps.

An empathic disposition complements interpersonal courage, for the more empathic the leader, the more they will be courageous in respectful rather than disrespectful ways. Excellent leaders care deeply about the lives, learning and wellbeing of their students.

PRESENTER: 

Brendan Vanderkley