What role does empathy play in your leadership style? Can you share an example of a time when empathy helped you better connect with and lead your team?

Question

Empathy is revolutionizing leadership approaches across diverse industries, as revealed by real-world examples from seasoned professionals. This article delves into how understanding and connecting with others can transform team dynamics, boost productivity, and enhance decision-making. Drawing from expert insights, it explores the profound impact of empathetic leadership in various challenging scenarios.

Cindy Rowe · Answer

Empathy and kindness are at the core of how I lead because I've seen firsthand how they change the dynamic of a team. For me, empathy means taking the time to step into someone else's shoes before reacting.
I remember leading a project where one of my team members, who is normally a rock star, suddenly started showing up late to meetings and missing deadlines. The easy thing would have been to call them out on performance, but I asked, "What's going on? How are you doing?" That conversation opened the door for them to share that they were caring for an ill family member and barely keeping their head above water.
Instead of adding pressure, I worked with the rest of the team to redistribute tasks. That moment reminded me that empathy doesn't make you a weaker leader; it makes you a stronger one. When people feel seen and supported, they'll give you their best work and their best selves.

Peter Lewis · Answer

Empathy is my leadership style. It's not a tool I pull out when things get tense—it's the foundation I build everything on.
When I led a 50-person travel company in Chile, my team came from every walk of life. Tour guides, marketers, drivers, interns. Some had PhDs, while others were learning English on the job. Empathy wasn't optional—it was how we got anything done.
One example stands out:During the social unrest in Chile in 2019, our entire business came to a halt. Streets were blocked. Tourism evaporated. I had to lay off dozens of team members—people I cared deeply about. But instead of hiding behind a memo or HR department, I sat down with each person, one by one. I told them the truth. I told them I was scared too. That I didn't know what was next. And I listened—really listened—to how they were feeling.
Some cried. Some got angry. Some hugged me.
But every single one of them left that room knowing they mattered more than the business. That conversation didn't fix everything—but it preserved our dignity. And that matters more than any marketing metric.
Empathy doesn't mean being soft. It means seeing the full human behind the title. And when you do that, people don't just work for you—they work with you.
That's how I lead.With eyes open and heart engaged.

Vasilii Kiselev · Answer

Empathy isn't a soft add-on. It is the superpower with which we build a completely remote team spread across 30-plus countries. Working across time zones and cultures, empathy can never be an add-on. It must be included in the basic package.
When an intense exam period was in full swing in spring, one of the instructors in a country affected by power cuts told me, "I'm afraid I'll lose contact in the middle of a class." Instead of talking about just a backup plan, I asked her how much work she was carrying and how stressed she was. She suggested, "Maybe we shorten the live session by 15 minutes and fill in with some pre-recorded material that the children can default to." We made the changes immediately. That small tweak didn't just sidestep some missed lessons. It built a new culture of trust, maintained student satisfaction at high levels (our surveys consistently show more than 90 percent of parents give the live instruction an "excellent" rating), and inspired others to voice difficulties early. What could have been a failure point turned into a culture shift.
This is what I've discovered. Empathy, in all reality, isn't pity or benevolent acts. It's planning. When your people understand you treat them as people first, performance and creativity follow. That, in a lean company, is often the difference between survival to see another day and success.

Derek Pankaew · Answer

For me, empathy in leadership isn't just about "being nice" or offering support when someone's struggling. It's about tuning into the unspoken context behind someone's work. A while back, one of our team members started missing deadlines — which, at a startup, can spiral into frustration fast. The instinctive reaction would have been to tighten expectations, maybe even reassign projects. Instead, I just asked him to walk me through his day. Not the tasks, but the actual texture of it.
What came out wasn't that he was overwhelmed — it was that he felt isolated. Being fully remote, he was carrying this silent pressure that nobody noticed his small wins. The deadlines slipping weren't about workload; they were about motivation. Once we saw that, the fix was surprisingly simple: we created a "micro-celebration" ritual where tiny achievements got shared and recognized immediately, even if it was just a quick Slack message with emojis flying around. His output rebounded, but more importantly, he looked visibly lighter in our calls.
That moment reshaped how I see empathy: it's not always about solving problems directly; it's about uncovering what problem someone thinks they're solving on their own, silently, and showing them they don't have to. Leadership by empathy is less about speeches and more about noticing the invisible weight someone's carrying.

Doug Burnetti · Answer

Empathy is the engine of our entire practice, not just a component of my leadership style. My team is on the front lines of human tragedy every single day, absorbing the pain and fear of families whose lives have been shattered. My role as a leader is to recognize their immense emotional burden. True leadership in this field requires understanding that the secondary trauma they experience is real. Therefore, empathy isn't a "soft skill." It's a strategic necessity to prevent burnout and to keep my team resilient and focused on the fight for our clients.
A clear example of this is when I notice a team member struggling with a case. An unempathetic leader might see only a dip in performance or a missed deadline. An empathetic leader, however, sees the human toll. The best approach in a situation like this is to pull that paralegal or young attorney aside, not to reprimand them, but to acknowledge the difficulty of what they're dealing with and ask how they're coping. By offering support, whether it's reassigning the case or simply listening, I'm showing them that their well-being matters more than a deadline. That single act builds a foundation of trust and loyalty that no bonus ever could, creating a team that feels supported enough to continue fighting these difficult battles.

Shishir Khedkar · Answer

Empathy is at the heart of my leadership style because it allows me to understand what truly matters to my team members beyond their day-to-day tasks. I believe that when people feel seen and supported as individuals, they are more motivated, loyal, and engaged.
For example, one of my team members needed to travel to India for an extended period to support his family during his brother's wedding. Recognizing how important this was to him personally, I worked with senior management to create a flexible arrangement—four weeks of remote work from India and two weeks of vacation. I allowed him to split the four weeks in a way that best fit his needs, with the understanding that he would align his hours to overlap with U.S. working time.
The result was remarkable. He was able to support his family, honor his cultural responsibilities, and still deliver on all his work commitments. His trip was so seamless that most people didn't even realize he was outside the U.S. for nearly six weeks. This experience reinforced for me that empathy isn't just about kindness—it's a leadership tool that builds trust, empowers people, and drives performance.

Ross Albers · Answer

In the world of criminal defense, when it comes to leadership, empathy is the central pillar upon which everything else is built. It's a non-negotiable tool for leading a team through the emotional trenches of criminal defense.
Our work is not just intellectually demanding; it's emotionally draining. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people on the worst day of their lives, and that secondary trauma is very real. Empathy, for me, is the ability to recognize the human toll this work takes on my team. It's my primary tool for preventing burnout and fostering resilience. It means creating a culture where my attorneys and staff feel safe enough to be vulnerable, to talk about a difficult client interaction, or to admit they're struggling after a tough loss. It's about understanding that their well-being is directly tied to their ability to provide the best possible defense for our clients.
A powerful example of empathy's impact is how a leader responds when a dedicated attorney loses a hard-fought case. An un-empathetic leader might immediately jump to a clinical, "What could we have done differently?" analysis, focusing only on the outcome.
An empathetic leader, however, connects with the person first. I would start by saying, "I know how much of yourself you poured into that case. This loss hurts, and it's okay to be angry and disappointed." I might even share a quick story about a devastating loss I had early in my career. By validating their emotional investment before dissecting the strategy, you show them you see their humanity. This approach builds a profound level of trust and loyalty. It sends a clear message: "I care about you as a person, not just for the results you produce." That's how you build a team that is not only highly effective but also resilient and deeply committed to the firm's mission.

Marquette Walker · Answer

Empathy is at the core of my leadership style. It's how I build trust, strengthen relationships, and create spaces where people feel valued. For me, leadership isn't only about guiding strategy; it's about truly seeing and hearing people. When individuals feel understood, they're far more willing to engage, collaborate, and take ownership of outcomes.
One way I weave empathy into practice is through an exercise I call "1 Thing." At the start of team sessions, I ask each person to share one thing they're grateful for that day. It may sound simple, but it creates a space where people can be authentic, and it immediately shifts the tone of the group. I paraphrase each response back to them--not just to show I'm listening, but to validate their experience and highlight the lesson for the team. The result is that people feel heard and respected, which increases openness, creativity, and connection.
That small act of empathy (taking the time to listen deeply) transforms the team dynamic. Instead of starting from stress or disconnection, we begin with positivity and shared humanity. It's a reminder that empathy isn't a "soft skill." It's a powerful leadership strategy.

Sabah Drabu · Answer

Empathy serves as the foundation of my leadership approach, allowing me to understand team members as complete individuals rather than just workers. I saw this clearly when one of our chefs at CookinGenie.com was experiencing burnout, and I recognized the signs before it affected their performance. By taking time to listen, offer support, and create temporary accommodations, we not only preserved their dignity but also maintained our service quality during a challenging period. This experience reinforced my belief that leadership requires looking beyond immediate business concerns to truly understand and respond to the human needs of your team.

Nir Appelton · Answer

Empathy is the foundation of how I lead at "Adorb Custom Tees". Early on, we faced a crunch during the holiday season; everyone was stretched thin, and tension was rising. Instead of pushing harder, I sat down with the team to understand their challenges. 
One employee shared that their young child was sick, making it hard to juggle work and family. That conversation shifted everything. We restructured shifts and offered flexibility. This empathy not only eased stress but also strengthened trust and collaboration. 
Moments like these remind me that leadership isn't just about targets; it's about people. Understanding their stories helps me connect deeply and guide with compassion, creating a culture where everyone feels valued and motivated.

Joshua Schirard · Answer

I consider empathy to be an awareness of the situation. From my high-stress law enforcement work, I learned to assess situations and the people involved, understand their concerns, and gauge their emotional states. This skill directly transfers to my job at Byrna, where I teach teams worldwide. Empathy allows me to be aware of what trainees need and how to format training so that they'll be more receptive to learning.
One of our recent sessions involved an officer who was resistant to adopting newer, less-lethal options. Instead of arguing to make a sale, I listened and acknowledged their concerns. We worked through how to introduce new options without making them feel their experience or training was being devalued. This approach built trust and made them willing to try something new.
It's not just about being nice; it's about being effective. When people feel understood, they are more willing to listen to new procedures and approaches. At Byrna, I have seen that listening and adapting to what the team requires can transform skepticism into commitment. Empathy allows us to implement new procedures in a way that builds confidence, efficiency, and security.

Christopher Pappas · Answer

We view empathy as an active practice rather than a passive trait. During a challenging financial period, we needed creative ideas to make the most of our resources. Some team members were hesitant to share their thoughts because they feared criticism. By acknowledging their concerns and creating a safe and judgment-free space, we encouraged open communication. Ideas began to surface that helped us reduce costs and improve processes. One suggestion was so effective that it became a best practice across departments.
This experience reinforced that empathy drives innovation. People contribute their best ideas when they feel safe and trusted. Leadership grounded in empathy does more than protect morale. It unlocks potential that might otherwise remain hidden. When employees feel supported, they are willing to experiment and push boundaries. Empathy allows teams to collaborate more openly and achieve results that benefit the entire organization.

Joaquin Calvo · Answer

Empathy helps me lead with understanding. When we introduced a new scheduling platform, teachers resisted, and morale dipped. Instead of pushing harder, I scheduled one-on-one calls to listen. Their concern was about complexity and loss of control, not laziness. By validating their feelings, we co-designed training and a phased rollout. Adoption improved, and so did our team bond.

Illustrious Espiritu · Answer

I didn't initially view empathy as a core part of my job. My focus was on results, hitting our numbers, and maintaining optimal efficiency. I believed my role was to set the direction, while my team's responsibility was to execute. For a time, this approach yielded success—we were experiencing growth. However, I sensed a disconnect. There was a lack of genuine motivation beyond earning a paycheck.
My perspective underwent a complete transformation a couple of years ago. We were in the midst of a significant effort to launch a new product line, and the pressure was intense. The work was demanding, and I noticed that one of our top marketing analysts, who was typically sharp and reliable, began missing deadlines. She was quiet during meetings, and her usual creative spark had diminished. My initial instinct was to discuss performance issues and get things back on track.
However, for some reason, I decided to take a different approach. I pulled her aside and simply asked, "Hey, is everything okay?" She then opened up about a personal issue she was facing at home. It wasn't work-related, but it was affecting her ability to concentrate. My approach wasn't to give her a free pass; it was to listen and demonstrate that I viewed her as a person first. From a marketing perspective, we temporarily reassigned her to a less time-sensitive project. From an operations standpoint, we found a way to adjust her workload so she could address her personal needs without letting the team down.
The results were unexpected. Her performance didn't just return to normal; it excelled. She was grateful and became even more dedicated. But the real impact was on the entire team. They saw that I cared about more than just their output. It built a level of trust and loyalty that can't be achieved with a bonus or a team dinner. Our teams began communicating more effectively, and people felt comfortable approaching me with problems before they escalated.
My advice is that empathy isn't merely a soft skill; it's a critical leadership tool. When you lead with empathy, you're not just managing a team—you're building a foundation of trust that makes your team more resilient, more creative, and more willing to go the extra mile when it truly matters. It's the best investment you can make in your people.

Taylor Humphries · Answer

Empathy is central to my leadership because building culture starts with understanding people, not just managing tasks. At Ranked, one moment that stands out was during our app redesign. The team was under pressure, and instead of pushing harder, I paused to listen, asking each person what challenges they faced beyond the deadlines.
That empathy shifted everything. By adjusting timelines and redistributing work, we not only protected the team's well-being but also shipped features that creators now call their favorites. Empathy didn't slow us down; it unlocked better results.

Alex Smereczniak · Answer

Empathy is central to my leadership style because it helps me understand what motivates and challenges each team member. At Franzy, for example, when a new team member struggled to navigate our onboarding process, I took the time to sit down, walk through the process with them, and ask where they were feeling stuck.
This small act of empathy didn't just solve an immediate problem, but it also helped build trust, boosted their confidence, and gave me insight into how we could improve the onboarding experience for everyone. Leading with empathy ensures our team feels supported, heard, and empowered, which strengthens collaboration and overall performance.

Ydette Macaraeg · Answer

Empathy serves as a practical tool for uncovering obstacles that data alone does not reveal. During a high-pressure grant cycle, deadlines were repeatedly slipping despite strong technical performance from the team. Instead of tightening oversight, I scheduled one-on-one check-ins and asked about challenges beyond workload. Several staff members shared that balancing caregiving duties with rigid meeting schedules was creating stress that slowed progress.
Adjusting the workflow to include flexible check-ins and asynchronous updates immediately lifted productivity, and the proposals were submitted ahead of schedule. The experience reinforced that acknowledging personal circumstances is not about lowering expectations but about removing barriers that prevent people from contributing at their best. Empathy created alignment between team capacity and organizational goals, which strengthened both trust and results.

Alec Loeb · Answer

Empathy shapes how I lead because it keeps me grounded in what my team is actually experiencing, not just what I expect from them. Early in my role, I noticed the team was juggling too many priorities at once. Instead of pushing harder, I sat down with a few of them one-on-one and just listened. They weren't asking for less work; they wanted clarity. That moment hit me.
So I reorganized how we set goals. We cut noise, defined ownership, and gave people room to breathe. The shift wasn't about strategy on a slide; it was about showing I heard them. Productivity went up, but more importantly, trust did too.
That experience taught me empathy isn't soft. It's practical. It lets me see the friction points that might never surface in a status report and act on them in a way that actually makes the team stronger.

Jeremy Yamaguchi · Answer

I always feel that empathy helps me make the best decisions possible for my team and company. I'm often faced with big decisions, and I know that those can significantly impact the people on my team. To make the best decisions possible, what's invaluable is being able to weigh as many perspectives as you can. Empathy allows me to do that. It enables me to consider how different potential decisions will impact people in various ways, which ultimately allows me to come to the best conclusions.

Ed Hones · Answer

Empathy is foundational to my leadership approach as it helps me understand the unique challenges and needs of my team members. During our firm's expansion, I noticed I wasn't fully grasping the emotional pressures my team was experiencing, which was affecting our collective performance. I implemented regular one-on-one meetings to create a space where team members could share concerns and receive individualized support. This practice significantly improved our team cohesion and productivity, confirming that understanding others' perspectives is essential for effective leadership.

Seamus Nally · Answer

Empathy is a significant component of my leadership style. I would consider myself to incorporate more of a servant leadership approach, and I don't believe that can be effectively achieved without empathy. Empathy allows me to connect with my employees more authentically, and I think it also benefits the company culture as a whole because I lead by example and encourage my employees to employ empathy as well.

Dan Grigin · Answer

Flooring decisions are emotional - people are investing in their homes and families. When customers feel overwhelmed by choices, I share stories of similar families who found perfect solutions. Empathy helps our team understand that a stressed customer isn't difficult; they're just making a big decision. This perspective shift changes how we handle questions, concerns, and even complaints. Understanding the emotional investment behind every purchase makes us better consultants.

Sarah Bonza · Answer

Empathy is a fundamental component of my leadership approach, as it allows me to understand and address the needs of my team more effectively. As a healthcare administrator, I made constant efforts to look at situations from others' perspectives, which proved invaluable in managing complex interpersonal dynamics. This practice helped me build stronger connections with both colleagues and patients, ultimately creating a more collaborative and supportive work environment. By truly understanding what others are experiencing, I can make more informed decisions that benefit the entire team.

23 Examples of Empathy Transforming Leadership Approaches

23 Examples of Empathy Transforming Leadership Approaches

Empathy Transforms Team Dynamics

Leading with Heart in Challenging Times

Remote Leadership Thrives on Empathy

Uncovering Silent Struggles Through Empathy

Empathy Prevents Burnout in High-Stress Fields

Cultural Sensitivity Boosts Team Performance

Empathy Drives Resilience in Criminal Defense

Building Trust Through Authentic Connections

Empathetic Leadership Preserves Dignity and Quality

Compassionate Restructuring Eases Holiday Stress

Empathy Enhances Training Effectiveness Worldwide

Empathetic Environment Sparks Innovative Solutions

Understanding Concerns Improves Technology Adoption

Personal Connection Transforms Team Productivity

Empathy Unlocks Creativity in App Development

Empathetic Onboarding Strengthens Team Collaboration

Flexible Workflows Boost Grant Proposal Success

Listening Transforms Goal-Setting and Trust

Empathy Informs Better Decision-Making

One-on-One Meetings Improve Team Cohesion

Servant Leadership Thrives on Empathy

Empathy Enhances Customer Experience in Flooring

Healthcare Leadership Strengthened Through Understanding