It might be argued that the world of business is not immediately synonymous with subjects such as empathy, especially with companies who focus on hard data and statistics.
In reality however, the ability for a company to present and practice empathy in their daily operations can be crucial to their success. Social responsibility and recognizing the demands of one’s target demographic can be a key component in the drive behind an effective marketing campaign.
Practicing empathy in business can be vital to the retention of customers, the development of a product, and staff satisfaction.
If you are looking to grow your business in a positive direction, or would simply like to be more understanding at work, here are some useful points to consider.
There is a Need for Transparency
In the digital realm of accessibility, visibility and free information, transparency can be increasingly important for businesses. A subject somewhat manifesting alongside the rise of social media, for businesses to remain in a positive light in the public eye, empathy can be an extremely useful tool.
By addressing current issues and understanding their customer base, businesses can practice empathy and let potential consumers know that they are the ones worth turning to, worth trusting and relying on.
This is one area in which social media has the potential to help positively grow a company’s brand image, which is worth considering if you were thinking about launching a campaign to develop public opinion of your products and services.
To Demonstrate Responsibility
Being socially responsible as a business and an employer can have a positive impact on a host of factors, from society itself to the customer, an even to your fellow colleagues.
Making a monetary donation to a respected and trusted charity can help to show the world that you promote a sense of responsibility and self-awareness.
Looking out for the community is also a useful way to promote responsibility amongst your employees and positively grow your brand image. This can be achieved by spending some time working with local businesses, perhaps sourcing your products and materials from somewhere closer to home.
To Listening to Customers
Listening to customers can be crucial to the success of any business, so taking steps to make sure their voices are heard can be a good way of actively addressing the demands of your demographic.
This is a good way to practice empathy, and by implementing feedback options for your products and services, and by providing a helpline and a point of contact in the form of an online chat option, you can show people that you value their comments.
To Improve Customer Retention and Brand Loyalty
Showing your customers that you care can work wonders for your sales figures, plus, a satisfied customer who feels well looked after is likely to spread the good word of your company, leading to an increase in footfall.
Practicing empathy can also help to create a working environment in which employees relish the opportunity to be a part of. This can help create a happy workforce who remain loyal and productive, simply because they enjoy it.
