Why Empathetic Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever

Forbes

23-06-2025

CEO of executive coaching firm Jody Michael Assoc. and author of Leading Lightly: Lower Your Stress, Think with Clarity and Lead with Ease.
I recently came across a commencement address by Bill Bullard, a high school dean of faculty, that included the memorable quote:
"The highest form of knowledge ... is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world."
Empathy has become an imperative in contemporary leadership. Often labeled as a "soft skill," empathy is, in fact, a cornerstone of effective decision-making, talent retention and sustainable performance. It is also the foundation of emotional intelligence—and the most common element missing when emotional intelligence falls short.
Lead With Empathy And Build Psychological Safety
When leaders lead with empathy, individuals—whether direct reports or peers—feel heard, seen and valued. This creates a climate of psychological safety, where trust and openness flourish. In such environments, team members are more likely to speak up, share ideas and admit mistakes without fear of blame. That openness drives collaboration, creativity and resilience—especially critical in high-pressure or fast-moving settings.
Empathy also helps buffer against today's constant stressors. In a world shaped by geopolitical upheaval, social division and AI disruption, leaders are not navigating occasional challenges; they are steering through a state of continuous crisis.
The Human Cost Of Empathy Gaps
One of my coaching clients, a skilled marketing strategist, spent several years helping her organization implement and train an AI system to streamline campaign development. Her expertise was crucial in training the system to mirror her strategic thinking. But once the AI reached peak performance, she was let go. The very tool she trained replaced her, at no cost. Her story is a stark reality of what is already unfolding in many industries: talent being displaced by the very technology they helped build.
In another case, a client told me of a team member who worked nearly 48 hours straight to meet an unrealistic deadline—only to be asked to do it again a month later, in even less time. There was no acknowledgment, no adjustment and no curiosity about the toll this demand had taken on the employee.
This kind of leadership without empathy is not only unsustainable but actively harmful to morale and performance. These types of demands lead to burnout, disengagement and high turnover. Research backs this up. A review of 42 studies found that empathetic leadership boosts engagement and reduces turnover—especially in times of uncertainty.
The Leadership Blind Spot
In my experience, leadership without empathy often stems from deeper issues: compulsiveness, insecurity or an over-identification with results.
Leaders frequently overestimate their empathic abilities. According to the "2024 State of Workplace Empathy Report: A Game Plan for Putting Empathy into Action," while 55% of CEOs believe they lead with empathy, only 28% of employees and just 22% of HR professionals agree. In 360-degree reviews I have conducted, I have seen many high-performing leaders blindsided by feedback that reveals how little they understand the emotional experiences of their teams.
Five Ways To Practice Empathy Effectively
Despite its importance, empathy remains widely misunderstood and, as discussed above, rarely practiced effectively by leaders. Here are five practical strategies you can use to build real empathy in your day-to-day leadership.
Empathy begins with active listening. When someone says they are overwhelmed, resist the urge to judge or compare. Instead, ask what is on their plate, seek to understand their obstacles and offer support where needed. But first, listen to understand, not to respond.
If a project is due Wednesday, do not ask for it on Monday. Instead, check in to offer support and ask how the work is progressing. Respect the timeframes you have agreed on rather than using them as leverage.
Pay attention to your team's behavior and energy. Are they exhausted? Distracted? Life outside of work—parenting, illness, caregiving—can affect performance. Empathy means noticing and adjusting expectations without penalizing people for being human.
Empathy involves understanding individuals and managing the larger group. When leaders over-identify with one team member, it can create resentment and disrupt cohesion. Make sure you hold space for both individual and collective success.
You do not have to solve every problem yourself. A better approach is to listen, ask what is needed and help the person access the right resources—whether that is coaching, HR support, additional flexibility, etc. Empathy is about empowering, not rescuing.
Empathy Drives Real Leadership
People do not leave companies; they leave bosses. When you lead with empathy, you gain trust, loyalty and true followership. And in today's world of constant disruption, that human connection may be your greatest leadership asset.
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