It has to be Berlin


King Eric still sits on the couch wondering why he did not make it to the World Cup (good luck to your favorite teams in Russia) whilst we quickly fast forward 20 years and move to the majestic city of Madrid.

We are inside the Royal Mint of Spain listening to a conversation of a group of robbers. It is the fourth day of police siege. The machines continue printing fifty-euro notes and the gang executes with relative discipline a plan to pull off the biggest heist in recorded history. The next step of the plan is to change the perception of the public opinion. They are not criminals but twenty first century Robbin Hoods. A journalist and a cameraman are about to enter the crime scene and broadcast live what is going on inside. The thieves want to tell the world that they are tired and are losing the war.
This is Money Heist (“La casa de Papel”) one of the most trending Netflix series these days. I am not sure whether to recommend it or not. However, if you start watching it you will have to swallow 22 episodes non-stop. Heads up!
Tokyo, Nairobi, Denver, Helsinki and Berlin – the thieves don’t know each other’s real names and use a city name as a nickname – discuss who of them should be the one interviewed. After a long discussion Tokyo, raises her tone: “It should be Berlin”.
Berlin suffers from a rare disease which has neuronal impact in the form of lack of empathy. He can contemplate senseless how a hostage or a colleague suffer in pain. He again and again brags about not being affected by love or by loss.

Tokyo continues: “Berlin has no feelings and cannot understand what others feel. He is ideal to portray the loser and avenger image we want to present to the audience”. Berlin answers: “You are totally right. I can fake any feeling any time”.
And Berlin succeeds in his endeavor by convincing everybody about their weakened position whilst the machines continue printing…

For me, empathy is the most important skill any leader should master. It is highly unlikely that you will be able to drive your team engagement and performance if you are not able to listen to them, take the time to understand their circumstances and walk constantly in their shoes. Empathy is therefore an enabler for success in any organization.
It is (at least for me) not about being soft or accommodating, but about sitting next to the driver, seeing how the world looks through the windshield and making sure that he or she has the optimal conditions to reach target. The empathy lenses shall help you to make the tough and drastic decisions that any leader needs to take. Otherwise it is not empathy but something else.

Some would still see it as a nice-to-have skill and I do not have enough track record to counter that argument. However, Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO) explains in his “Hit Refresh” book that empathy is at the core of the successful revolution he started at Microsoft four years ago. Quite impressive, refreshing and inspiring.
Do you find that empathy drives performance and success?
What actions do you take daily to drive this empathy towards your team?
Are we developing a culture where empathy plays a center role?
Do you feel that your manager is closer to Berlin or to Satya Nadella?

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