The Science Behind Empathetic Leadership
Research demonstrates that empathetic leaders drive higher employee engagement, increased innovation and superior financial performance.

The neurological explanation is compelling. When employees feel understood and valued, their brains operate in a state conducive to creativity and problem-solving. Conversely, when they perceive threat or indifference from leadership, their cognitive resources shift to self-preservation, limiting their capacity for innovation and collaboration.

According to McKinsey, psychological safety is consistently one of the strongest predictors of team performance, productivity, quality, safety, creativity and innovation across industries ranging from medical teams in hospitals to software development teams at Big Tech firms.

The Tampa Bay Times will host a free community conversation Nov. 6 about empathy and open-mindedness in partnership with the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.

The Spotlight Tampa Bay event, “Can We Still Talk? Finding Empathy During Divided Times,” will take place at 5 p.m. at 2333 34th St. S. in St. Petersburg. Attendees should register at tampabay.com/spotlight. Admission and parking are free.

“Human beings are wired for connection,” said Times CEO Conan Gallaty. “We need this conversation before we can re-engage. Finding empathy in moments like this heals ourselves as much as it does our relationships with others.”

I'm an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (my pronouns are he/him/his) and I get to serve in the Parish of St Margaret of Scotland, in the beautiful city of Halifax, NS, that sits on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi'kmaq people.

John Fugelsang dismantles Allie Beth Stuckey’s “Toxic Empathy" and explains how the Christian right twists scripture to justify cruelty against marginalized groups.

“No matter how much Artificial Intelligence evolves and assists us in streamlining tasks or customizing responses, there is something that remains uniquely human: empathy. That ability to perceive others, to put oneself in their place, and to develop a genuine connection is irreplaceable. While it may seem natural to some, it is something everyone can and should practice.

Empathy is increasingly essential in customer interaction and must be a key element of any company’s culture. If we aim for more human, genuine, and productive relationships, simply talking about empathy is not enough – we must live it.

So how do we learn it?

EmpathyTech Philadelphia is where technology and empathy meet to create innovation that truly serves people of all abilities and all ages.

This year’s theme, Inclusion — Every Step of the Way, reflects our dedication to ensuring that every advance in technology is empathy-driven, inclusive, and built to support people at every stage of life.

The 2025 event will take place at the prestigious Lincoln Financial Field, with a day full of speakers, vendor tables, and networking. Building on the success of past EmpathyTech events in Oslo and Philadelphia, this conference brings together leaders and changemakers who share a vision for technology that empowers, connects, and fits our philosophy of:

The recent Seattle IT Learning Conference saw a standout presentation that's been the talk of the town.

A team known for its expertise in service design delivered a session titled "Empathy by Design: Crafting Human-Centered AI Experiences," which has gained momentum and led to an encore due to popular demand.

Guest: Dr. Helen Riess is the Director of the Empathy and Relational Science Program in the Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, founder of Empathetics, Inc., and author of a book called The Empathy Effect.

The Truth About Empathy

Empathy isn’t just about feeling sorry for people. It’s about understanding their emotions, experiences, and perspectives without losing yourself in the process. In this video, Darren F Magee explains what empathy really means and how to use it in a healthy, balanced way.

You’ll learn the difference between empathy and sympathy, explore cognitive, affective, and somatic empathy, and discover how empathy works on both emotional and psychological levels. When empathy is balanced with boundaries, it becomes one of the greatest strengths we can develop. Without boundaries, it can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and overwhelm.

Whether you’re an empath, someone working in a helping profession, or simply trying to build better relationships, this video will help you understand:

What real empathy looks like

- How to recognize empathy burnout
- Why empathy needs emotional boundaries
- How to say no with empathy
- How to strengthen emotional intelligence and connection
- Understanding empathy helps us connect deeply, reduce conflict, and protect our own emotional health.

Belinda Parmar, chief executive of The Empathy Business, highlighted that while large language models could absolutely provide empathy, they do not possess the levels of emotional intelligence which advisers have.

A study by Microsoft found ChatGPT was the most empathetic, however Parmar noted LLMs can get confused with empathy and sympathy.

Additionally, Parmar said the LLMs can produce ‘empathy bloating’ whereby it provides constant flattery to the user and therefore may not always say what the user needs to hear.

HTF MI recently introduced Global Empathy in Leadership Market study with 143+ pages in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status (2025-2033). The market Study is segmented by key regions which is accelerating the marketization. At present, the market is developing its presence.

Major companies in Empathy in Leadership Market are:
FranklinCovey, Center for Creative Leadership, Korn Ferry, Dale Carnegie Training, Brene Brown Education (partners), NeuroLeadership Institute, McLean & Company (leadership coaches), BetterUp, LinkedIn Learning (courses), Harvard Business Publishing (leadership), Coursera (specializations), Udemy (training), PwC (leadership dev), Deloitte Leadership, Korn Ferry Advance, Blanchard Training, Zenger Folkman, Catalyst

At the University of Arizona, a new kind of outpatient clinic is opening doors, virtually. The AI Outpatient Clinic, developed through a collaboration between the Center for Transformative Interprofessional Healthcare (CTIPH), UITS iDX, and Campus Web Services (CWC), is helping health sciences students strengthen one of the hardest-to-teach skills in medicine: empathy.

The platform hosts 21 virtual patient cases, each designed to simulate complex, real-world scenarios where students must listen actively, respond compassionately, and navigate sensitive topics such as stigma and substance use. Using artificial intelligence and natural language processing, the clinic provides learners with consistent, low-risk opportunities to practice patient interviewing, no faculty facilitator required.

What You Will Learn:

Why empathy is the ultimate leadership superpower
How to prepare for a role before you have the title
Practical ways to push past fear and build confidence
The secret to hiring and empowering great talent
Why balance—not burnout—fuels long-term success

Shillong (Meghalaya) [India], October 30 (ANI): Project Empathy and Assam Rifles Public School hosted the launch of the empathy art exhibition I AM WITH YOU at All Saints Hall, Shillong. The Chief Justice of Meghalaya inaugurated the exhibition, Justice Soumen Sen, in the presence of principals, teachers, students, and members of the Assam Rifles fraternity, a press release said.

“The exhibition celebrates empathy as both an emotion and a way of living — expressed through the creativity and voices of young artists. It showcased artworks from participating schools, each narrating stories of connection, healing, and shared humanity”, a release said.

In his address, the Chief Justice remarked, “Young artists, you remind us that compassion can be as simple as noticing someone’s pain, offering a helping hand, or celebrating another’s joy. ‘I Am With You’ will encourage us to reflect on how we treat each other, and how we can make our communities more caring and inclusive.”

by Andrew Mueller
Your book emphasises the value of empathy in leadership. While it’s easy for a leader to say they feel your pain, it’s harder for them to do something about it. Is that why it was so important to focus on reforming firearms law after Christchurch?

Empathy is nothing without action. It’s also driven by the question, ‘How do I prevent this from happening to anyone else ever again?’ Compassion is strongly associated with motivation towards action and, for us, that manifested as a need to do something about access to military-style and semi-automatic weapons. We passed gun-reform laws within 10 days of introducing them and more than 50,000 guns were returned in a buyback scheme, after which they were destroyed or modified to be lawful firearms

. There was also an added layer of victimisation because the attack was live-streamed. That led to a sense of duty not only to hold social-media companies accountable but to ask, ‘What are the pathways to radicalisation online and what can we do about it?’ And so we created the Christchurch Call to Action, which now has upwards of 130 countries and organisations working together to prevent violent extremist acts. Empathy is a series of actions, not just moments of grief.

How does active listening build empathy?
One of the most powerful ways to grow empathy is through active listening—fully focusing on the person speaking and showing that you value what they’re saying. When we truly listen, we go beyond simply hearing words. We pick up on tone, emotion, and even what’s left unsaid. This builds trust and rapport, which are the foundation of any strong relationship.

Good listening skills help us understand not just the facts, but the feelings behind them. In mindful listening, you’re fully present in the conversation, setting aside distractions and judgment. This kind of attention lets others know they are heard and respected, which naturally deepens the emotional connection between people.

by Megan Malone

When you can easily put yourself in another person’s shoes, that can quickly escalate to prioritizing their comfort or approval over your own needs or other factors.

Empathy—the ability to relate to the emotional experiences of others—is a workplace superpower. A survey of 900 US employees revealed that empathetic leadership results in more innovative and engaged teams, less turnover, higher productivity and more positive work experiences. With workplace burnout at an all-time high, empathy is an essential ingredient that organizations can’t afford to lose.