Good leadership characteristics are being rethought in today's corporate world. There is a growing consensus that empathy is a key leadership quality, alongside more conventional ones like decisiveness, strategic thinking, and resilience. As the CEO of a thriving company, I have witnessed firsthand how empathy can transform not only the workplace culture, but also the overall organization’s success.
The capacity to identify with and experience another person’s emotions is fundamental to empathy. Understanding and appreciating team members’ feelings, viewpoints, and life experiences is an important part of being a good leader. Empathetic leaders listen to their staff and address their issues in a way that makes everyone feel heard, valued, and respected.
"In Procurement, we’ve often been seen as the 'bad cops,' relishing our power tactics. But Tactical Empathy® changed the game. It’s not just about winning now; it’s about building long-term trust. I thought I understood it from books and podcasts, but this workshop revealed new insights and areas for improvement. For anyone in Procurement, this course is essential for elevating your skills and transforming your approach." :
There is always a moment after tragedy when the public is told to summon empathy, usually for the person who caused the tragedy. But this week the ask for empathy was for someone who many felt didn't deserve it and who wouldn't have offered in return. Many people bristled, asking why they should care about someone who actively promoted damage in an already damaged world.
Through the discourse surrounding Kirk’s death, I’ve become familiar with the term “selective empathy,” a succinct phrase that covers a concept with which many of us are familiar. At their worst, President Trump and even Kirk engaged in this type of moral relativism, condoning actions against their opponents that they would condemn if done to their allies. And those of us who reject the MAGA ideology are at our worst when we tolerate, excuse, or even celebrate, violence against those who oppose us or who hold us in disdain.
Hence my personal challenge: Feeling empathy for a person – trying to understand him, trying to walk in his shoes – when that person feels no empathy for others.
No empathy, especially, for Black professionals (“If I see a Black pilot, I’m going to be like, ‘Boy I hope he’s qualified’.”). Or for Black women (“You do not have brain processing power to otherwise be taken seriously, you have to go steal a white person’s slot”).
Or for the victims of America’s gun violence epidemic, including schoolchildren (“I think it’s worth the cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights”). Or for single women (“the most depressed, suicidal, anxious, and lonely in America’s history…so they start to lash out at the rest of society”). Or for Jews (“Some of the largest funders of cultural Marxist ideas… Jewish communities have been pushing the exact kind of hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them”). Or for gay people (who are “corrupting your children”).
Empathy in the Arena Empathy may not be the first word that comes to mind when discussing Charlie Kirk. Yet, beneath the surface of his confrontational style lies a strategic understanding of audience. Kirk speaks to young conservatives who often feel alienated in academic environments. He validates their concerns, gives them language, and builds community. That’s empathy in action.
Innovation leaders must do the same. We must understand the emotional landscape of our stakeholders—what they fear, what they hope for, and what they value. Empathy is not agreement; it’s connection. And connection is the foundation of co-creation.
“Charlie made it normal to be active in politics, made it cool, and made it something that people should be more interested in.” — Krish Mathrani, Michigan GOP Youth Chair
When I see Charlie Kirk getting shot and killed, presumably for his beliefs, I am reminded that I've imagined myself in that same position many times. (So have all of the security guards and production managers who worked to keep me safe on the road.) And yet, I have no empathy for him. Or maybe what I mean to say is that I have no extra empathy for him. Before any of you scroll down to the comments to tell me how agog you are, just understand one thing. Charlie Kirk would be fine with my lack of empathy for him, Not that I needed his permission.
“I can't stand empathy. I think empathy is a made-up, New Age term that — it does a lot of damage, but it is very effective when it comes to politics.” – Charlie Kirk
What in the overconfident white man yammer is going on with this sentence? “Empathy is a made-up New Age term”??? I hate to go all Oxford English on ya, but here we go. Empathy is not a New Age term, unless Charlie thought the NEW AGE started in 1909. That’s the first time empathy appeared in the English language.
We’ve forgotten how to listen, how to critically analyse, and how to approach conflict with empathy, and here’s how the world is paying the price.
How, in a corner of the world that prides itself on liberty and free speech, did we find ourselves in a dystopian landscape where speaking out on divisive issues, from whatever side of the fence, comes with a fear of persecution, judgment, and abuse?
I like to think that Kirk, the man immediately eulogized by the president himself, would approve of my harsh messaging. Kirk literally demonized empathy, telling listeners that “toxic empathy can be used as an unclean spirit to destabilize the church.” A professed Christian, he chuckled over his inability to muster goodwill: “I really try to have some Christ-like compassion, I do,” he said on his radio show, of his interactions with immigrants. “They don’t speak any English? Yeah, I’m sorry.”
Empathy, said Kirk, “is a made-up New Age term that does a lot of damage.”
In a moment of crucial reflection for a dangerously divided nation, Cenk Uygur makes a passionate plea to end the cycle of political violence and retribution. He argues that instead of saying the other side "had it coming" after an attack, we must go in the "exact opposite direction" and declare that NO ONE has it coming.
It's a powerful call to action: let's stop spreading hatred and start spreading empathy. Cenk makes it clear that you can and should massively disagree with people, but the way to fight is with words and ideas, not with violence.
As he warns, "There is no winning with violence. There is only death and destruction." This is a vital message that cuts through the noise and calls for a return to our shared humanity.
Registration for this session will close on Friday October 03, 2025.
All humans benefit from cultivating empathy, but as educators, we have so many extra human hearts to care for - that growing our own empathy becomes a vital aspect of our work. Join this supportive community of practice to explore how to keep our own hearts open, even as we set clear and necessary boundaries, to create the conditions for our students to move beyond their own points of view and genuinely care for one another.
Why Join?
Cultivate empathy while balancing self-care and setting healthy boundaries.
Experience practices that foster empathy and connection.
Connect with others to share insights and strategies for a meaningful impact.
What’s Included:
Three 90-minute facilitated sessions with the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley
A deep dive into the science of empathy with a group of like-minded educators from around the world
Resources and takeaways to apply directly in your school and/or
Making judgments, leading teams, and achieving goals have long been the hallmarks of leadership. However, the definition of leadership is changing in the dynamic workplace of today. It is no longer solely about technical proficiency, experience, or authority. Rather, leaders who have a greater understanding of people are the ones that succeed. Empathy, or the capacity to identify, comprehend, and react to the feelings of others, has emerged as the new superpower of leadership and is revolutionizing the way businesses operate.
For many years, aggressiveness, hierarchy, and control were frequently linked to leadership. However, these outdated models are becoming less relevant as workplaces become more diverse, collaborative, and human-centered. Today's workers demand leaders that care about them, listen to them, and support them as individuals—not just directives and deadlines. Empathy is the ability to lead with knowledge, compassion, and a sincere interest in the welfare of others. It is not the same as being soft or avoiding tough choices.
Empathy can become toxic when it starts affecting your well-being.
Empathy is generally seen as a positive thing and something we want people to cultivate in themselves. The skill of feeling what others feel can help build connections between people, prevent anti-social behaviors like bullying, and aid in resolving conflict, so it's good for society as a whole when people are empathetic.
"It's a way for us to bring our life experiences and share with each other, and to reach a common ground with each other," Riley said.
There's a direct link between empathy and commercial success, according to research conducted by the Harvard Business Review. The most empathetic companies outperform peers in the stock market by at least 50%.
"If we don't talk together, we can't work together," said Ann Kowal Smith, Reflection Point's founder.
Kowal Smith chooses the short stories for discussion, focusing on those matching issues and challenges faced by the team.
In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination i wanted to talk about Idubbbz and fake empathy of the left. Your boos mean nothing ive seen what makes you cheer.
I also recall that Charlie Kirk made it abundantly clear that he had no use for empathy. In his words, “Empathy is a new-age term that’s done a lot of damage.”
Hence my personal challenge: Feeling empathy for a person – trying to understand him, trying to walk in his shoes – when that person feels no empathy for others.
Human library is an innovative concept of building human connection and empathy with the help of storytelling. Here the ‘human books’ share the stories.
This episode is a raw meditation on the limits of human empathy, the difference between authentic and blind caring, and why we can’t (and shouldn’t) try to feel for everyone all the time. We get into limbic connection, smell as proof of reality, and how mythology outmuscles “facts.” If you’ve ever been told you “don’t care enough,” this talk is both permission slip and challenge.
Featured Quotes “Empathy is not a free energy device. It’s not a magic coupon you can just bequeef to everyone around you.” “The moment you can smell someone, you lose the ability to believe they’re not real.” “Blind empathy is how we go to war.” “This isn’t a contest for who cares most—it’s a contest for who cares authentically.” “Morality goes against the grain. It’s hardwood—and Gaia can do something with that.”\
This week’s guest is Robin Hills. Robin and Ron discussed emotional intelligence, unconscious bias, the importance of empathy and active listening, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.
In this episode you’ll learn: Robin’s quote (2:55) How Robin defines emotional intelligence (4:43) How it plays into righteous anger (7:03) Avoiding manipulative behavior (9:38) Robin’s thoughts on unconscious bias (10:42) Practicing empathy (13:42) The importance of pausing after listening (14:50) How Robin practices this (17:38) The future of emotional intelligence (20:03) Robin’s final words of wisdom (23:31)
Charlie Kirk has rubbed many people the wrong way, so there were understandably some apathetic reactions to his death this week. Amanda Seales shared her thoughts on the conservative activist being shot, saying that she was unable to have any empathy for him.
“First of all, Charlie Kirk don’t believe in empathy,” she said in an Instagram video. “He said it’s a bad thing. He said it’s some ‘new-age made-up sh*t.’ He also said people got to be sacrificed in order to protect guns. If he was saying that while fighting for reparations, I may have a little bit of empathy.”
The empathy gap is when we underestimate how much our feelings and current state of mind influence our decision making. Have you made a New Year’s resolution that you had EVERY intention to keep and then just didn’t? Maybe you decided to change your diet and replace after-work ice cream with fresh fruits. “Great idea!” you tell yourself, “I’m making fabulous choices!” And maybe you do that for a while until one day you feel tired or grumpy, got yelled at at work, your kids were driving you up the wall, or everything seemed to go wrong. Suddenly that bowl of ice cream felt irresistible and that fruit plan seemed ridiculous. This is an example of the “empathy gap.”
Empathy as a Business Superpower: The ROI of Human Connection
Make no mistake, empathy isn’t soft, and it’s certainly not fluffy. It requires courage, consistency, and accountability. True empathy involves listening deeply while also giving straight feedback. It’s about showing appropriate vulnerability while knowing your limits. Most importantly, it drives real business results.
The key insight here is that empathy isn’t about avoiding conflict – it’s about having conflict well. We taught our teams how to approach emotionally charged moments with composure, manage their own nervous system responses, and create psychological safety even during difficult feedback conversations.
On October 11, 2025 the Empathy Center will be conducting a free Facilitator training course on Zoom. The intent of this training is to teach the participant how to organize and conduct Empathy Circles.
The course is experiential and consists of 4 classes taught over 4 consecutive Saturdays. Each class lasts about two and half hours. In addition to attending 4 sessions of 2.5 hours each, there are weekly assignments to complete that may take 1-2 hours. We will also pair you weekly with an empathy buddy to practice empathy.
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