Originally published in Entrepreneur Magazine

By Chris Pierce-Cooke

Companies that want to boost profits should try a little empathy, especially now that millennials are beginning to dominate the work place.

A message we hear from many of our executive search-firm clients is that they are being called on to focus more than ever before on the empathy and emotional intelligence of candidates. The stakes are huge: A top executive lacking empathy could derail negotiations over a merger, acquisitiion or crucial partnership deal — never mind do a poor job of motivating his or her own teams.

Consider, too, that empathy really matters when businesses are in transition. When we’ve advised on mergers, we often see risks if the acquirer’s management team does not truly understand the acquiree’s culture: A merger can fail as the result of key talent leaving once non-compete deals expire.

Conversely, empathy can produce better, easier, faster transactions and transitions.

Read the full article at https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/282681

Chris Pierce-Cooke is Managing director of corporate development at Catapult Growth Partners.