Showing empathy to your staff as a business owner. How do you know when to be firm?

[King Belieal]

As a business owner or manager, it is always preached that they act with empathy towards the staff of the business organization.

Even when a business owner is empathetic with his or her staff, when is it necessary to be firm with the staff?

 

[Fire&Rain]

Empathy is important, but firmness is necessary when rules, deadlines, or standards are at risk. For example, if a staff member repeatedly misses deadlines or fails to follow procedures, being firm ensures accountability and maintains the business’s standards. You can still show understanding while clearly communicating expectations. Being empathetic doesn’t mean letting poor performance slide; it’s about balancing care with responsibility.

 

[Kera]

When a staff takes your empathy and wants to jeopardize the growth of the business, you should start being firm with such staff.

 

[eLdavis]

In situations where the staff breaks the law intentionally, then one can easily be strict with the said staff.

 

[Trush Jodie]

There are staff that might want to take advantage of the empathy of a business owner, and if the business owner starts noticing that, they should cut back on empathy.