Dr. Alfreda Goods, Dr. Scott McCalla and Dr.
Lisa Langford explore the implications of reducing employee
turnover through durable skills of empathetic leadership
University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a
new white paper, “Empathetic Leadership: Transforming Workplaces
with Compassion and Understanding,” authored by Alfreda Goods, DM,
associate faculty and fellow, Center for Workforce Diversity and
Inclusion Research (CWDIR), Scott McCalla, DM, staff faculty member
and fellow, CWDIR, and Lisa Langford, DM, staff faculty and fellow,
CWDIR.
The 2024 Career Optimism Index® study, conducted by University
of Phoenix Career Institute® indicates that reducing employee
turnover is a pressing issue for employers, revealing that more
than half of all working Americans are actively seeking new job
opportunities.
“Empathy stands out for the value it brings to both personal and
professional relationships,” states Goods. “When leaders develop
strong interpersonal relationships with others, especially
followers, they can positively impact psychological safety and
inclusion and have a positive impact reducing turnover in the
workplace.”
The white paper explores existing research that supports the
positive impact of empathetic leadership on workplace perceptions
and turnover, defining acts and characteristics of empathy
including emotional awareness, active listening, kindness, and
validation, contributions to creating psychological safety and
inclusion, the role of empathy and psychological safety in
leadership, and explores empathetic leadership models.
“Empathy does not mean weakness when it comes to managing
difficult conversations. It enables a leader to address significant
concerns while acknowledging emotions. Empathy is a strength that
enhances other leadership qualities, such as vision,
decision-making, purpose, and accountability,” states McCalla.
The authors point out that diversity training can help create a
culture of inclusivity with leaders supporting the value of diverse
experiences directly and as advocates for building employee
community through mechanisms such as employee resource groups
(ERGs). “Promoting an open and varied culture by valuing and
recognizing different points of view and backgrounds can help team
members understand each other better,” shares Langford. “Empathy is
not just a durable or soft skill, but a powerful tool in leading
teams.”
Goods has over 15 years of corporate experience in banking and
financial processing, supporting national and international clients
on-site. She has instructed graduate and undergraduate Business
Administration students for over 18 years. Goods earned her Doctor
of Management in Organizational Leadership from University of
Phoenix, a Master of Management from Bellevue University, and a
Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Houston. She
served as the New York City Department of Youth and Community
Development secretary for the District 12 Neighborhood Association
Board. A U.S. Army veteran, Goods received the Proclamation of
Honorable Adriano Espaillat, a Congress member of New York, for her
military and community service. She recently launched her brand
ANVOEL – A New Voice on Ethical Leadership – with the vision to
highlight the importance of ethical leadership and support the
concept that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is
the norm and not the exception.
McCalla serves as the Chief Strategy Officer for the
International Pipe & Supply family of companies and is a staff
faculty member and dissertation chair in the Doctor of Management
(DM) and Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programs at
University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies. With nearly 30
years of professional experience, he is a seasoned consultant and
speaker, specializing in business and motivational topics. McCalla
earned his Doctorate in Management from University of Phoenix and
holds both a Master’s and a bachelor’s degree in Leadership from
Bellevue University. His research centers on workplace bullying,
diversity, and inclusion, with several published papers and
conference presentations. Additionally, McCalla has consulted on
strategic change management for national organizations.
Langford has more than 15 years of higher education teaching
experience. She served 21 years in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves
and has worked as a senior project manager with the federal
government. Langford earned her Doctor of Management (DM) at
University of Phoenix, where she began her teaching career in 2006,
and a Master of Science in Organization and Leadership from
Pfeiffer University. Langford actively engages in volunteering and
mentoring young adults, nurturing future leaders, and is a member
of organizations including the American Association of University
Women, the Fort Pierce Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc.,
and the Treasure Coast (FL) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated,
reflecting her deep-rooted commitment to community engagement and
empowerment.
The full white paper is available at the University of Phoenix
Career Institute® webpage or as a direct link here.
About University of Phoenix
University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance
their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world.
Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning,
skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree
programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students
more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while
balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit
phoenix.edu.
About the College of Doctoral Studies
University of Phoenix’s College of Doctoral Studies focuses on
today’s challenging business and organizational needs, from
addressing critical social issues to developing solutions to
accelerate community building and industry growth. The College’s
research program puts students in the center of an effective
ecosystem of experts, resources and tools to help prepare them to
be a leader in their organization, industry and community. Through
this program, students and researchers work with organizations to
conduct research that can be applied in the workplace in real
time.
About the Career Optimism Index®
The Career Optimism Index® study is one of the most
comprehensive studies of Americans' personal career perceptions to
date. The University of Phoenix Career Institute® conducts this
research annually to provide insights on current workforce trends
and to help identify solutions to support and advance American
careers and create equity in the workplace. For the fourth annual
study, fielded between December 5, 2023-January 2, 2024, surveyed
more than 5,000 U.S. adults who either currently work or wish to be
working on how they feel about their careers at this moment in
time, including their concerns, their challenges, and the degree to
which they are optimistic about their careers. The study was
conducted among a nationally representative, sample of U.S. adults
and includes additional analysis of the workforce in the top twenty
DMA markets across the country to uncover geographic nuances. The
study also explores insights from 501 U.S. employers to provide
comparison between the workforce and those who hire, train, and
retain them. Additionally, for the first time, a statistical
modeling analysis was conducted to illustrate how employers and
employees can benefit financially from investing in career
optimism.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240813517941/en/
Sharla Hooper University of Phoenix
sharla.hooper@phoenix.edu