Radical Empathy in Leadership

Radical empathy is the willingness to show love and understanding to people whose actions toward you—and others who share your identity or belief—are the opposite of love. It requires us to offer empathy to those who may choose hatred or indifference. While this may seem like an arduous challenge, it is also the pathway to true transformation.

As leaders, it is our responsibility to cultivate an environment where empathy is not just a value, but a practice. We must recognize that everyone, regardless of their background or beliefs, has the potential for growth and change. By showing empathy to those who need it most, we create the conditions for deeper, more authentic connections that can lead to lasting change.

Teaching with empathy is now seen as a crucial approach in education, improving student engagement and creating a positive classroom environment. When educators connect with students emotionally and understand their struggles, they can better tailor their teaching methods to support individual learning.

Empathy goes beyond academic needs, focusing on each learner as a unique individual, making students feel valued, included, and respected.

Empathy allows educators to respond to students’ needs effectively, fostering a safe and inclusive atmosphere. This approach makes students more likely to participate actively, engage in discussions, and take intellectual risks without fear of judgment.

• Sahlah  Syeda

Empathy is an important part of being a good person. We should all be able to understand how others are feeling and be sensitive to their issues. 

However, as the idiom goes, too much of anything is never good, especially when it comes to kids. But most people think of that in terms of sugar, not empathy.

Teacher Sha Collier has a different perspective — one that is a bit controversial. In a TikTok video, she claimed that teachers have to give their students tough love in order to succeed, and he said it's a major factor in why teachers are leaving the profession in droves.

Ed Kirwan is high school teacher-turned-filmmaker and founder of Empathy Week. In this episode, he talks about his vision to empower a generation of young people to become empathic leaders through the power of films. This is a must-watch for educators everywhere.

Could empathy make a difference? Dr. Debarshi Roybelieves so.

As a behavioural scientist working on empathic social systems, and founder of an empathy diagnostic system called the School Empathy Audit Battery (SEAB) that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, he believes psychological safety must be embedded in educational settings at a systems level.

His recent publication, Empathy Driven School Systems, positions empathy at the heart of effective educational design. It also outlines strategies to foster inclusion and emphasizes emotional intelligence.

The need for more empathic schools cannot be understated, especially in light of the mental health crisis and loneliness epidemic that young people face today. Consider these stats:

With the new school year underway, New Jersey-based nonprofit TEEEM (The Empathy Equality Entrepreneurship Mission) announces the rapid expansion of its mission to inspire humanitarianism in schools, including its first partnership with an international school this year, in Toronto, Canada.

‘Empathy’ and ‘Social Entrepreneurship’ classes and clubs are being added to 28 schools in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Canada this school year, thanks to TEEEM, a nonprofit organization offering free educational programs and curriculum to educate youth on global issues and humanitarianism. This addition brings the total number of participating TEEEM schools to 51, with 45 more schools interested.

As reported by BBC News, a new study from the University of Cambridge suggests that empathy lessons in schools can lead to significant positive changes in students’ behaviour and emotional understanding
About 900 pupils aged between five and 18 in six countries completed a video course and engaged in discussions about it afterwards.

Empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others – is largely considered to be something we develop through childhood and our life experiences.

Pupils were rated by teachers on empathy, behaviour and other characteristics on a scale of 1-10 before the programme began, and again five and 10 weeks later, with the average empathy score rising from 5.55 to 7 during that period.

Their behaviour scores also increased, from 6.52 to 7.89.

One term of empathy lessons in schools could lead to positive changes in behaviour, a study supported by the University of Cambridge has suggested.

About 900 pupils aged between five and 18 in six countries completed a video course and engaged in discussions about it afterwards.

Empathy – the ability to understand and share the feelings of others – is largely considered to be something we develop through childhood and our life experiences.

Pupils were rated by teachers on empathy, behaviour and other characteristics on a scale of 1-10 before the programme began, and again five and 10 weeks later, with the average empathy score rising from 5.55 to 7 during that period.

Empathy with others is not only a natural ability, it can be taught in the classroom, an analysis has suggested.

Lessons in empathy improve kindness and boost positive behaviour in children, according to a report published on Wednesday.

Ed Kirwan is a former science teacher who founded Empathy Studios, a company that created a video-led course for schools. Analysis that the company conducted of its programme discovered that children became more emotionally literate within ten weeks. The children’s behaviour also improved over the same period.

Objective
From the perspective of empathy theory, this study focuses on the process of entrepreneurship education to explore the mechanism between teacher-student empathic relationship and psychological connection.

Background
Entrepreneurship education aims to provide talent to support the innovative development of society. Previous studies have focused on the educational significance of the promoting entrepreneurial intention, and few have paid attention to the psychological differentiation caused by the incomprehension between teachers and students.

by Le-Anne Goliath

Radical empathy involves actively seeking to comprehend the root causes of individuals’ behaviours and emotions and responding with compassion and support. In the educational context, this means recognising the impact of trauma and socio-economic challenges on students and addressing these issues with sensitivity and care. This approach is particularly beneficial in working-class schools, where students often face significant barriers to their educational success.

Could empathy make a difference? Dr. Debarshi Roybelieves so.

As a behavioural scientist working on empathic social systems, and founder of an empathy diagnostic system called the School Empathy Audit Battery (SEAB) that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, he believes psychological safety must be embedded in educational settings at a systems level.

His recent publication, Empathy Driven School Systems, positions empathy at the heart of effective educational design. It also outlines strategies to foster inclusion and emphasizes emotional intelligence.

The need for more empathic schools cannot be understated, especially in light of the mental health crisis and loneliness epidemic that young people face today. Consider these stats:

Santa Barbara Middle School (SBMS) has embraced values like equity, empathy, and inclusivity as a central part of its educational mission, aiming to shape students into compassionate leaders and conscientious global citizens. 

Equity and empathy are critical for developing students who understand and respect diversity, advocate for justice, and can act as agents of positive change. These values are particularly significant during the middle school years, a period of intense social, emotional, and intellectual growth. Teaching these principles equips students to interact thoughtfully within increasingly diverse and interconnected communities. 

• Sahlah  Syeda

Empathy is an important part of being a good person. We should all be able to understand how others are feeling and be sensitive to their issues. 

However, as the idiom goes, too much of anything is never good, especially when it comes to kids. But most people think of that in terms of sugar, not empathy.

Teacher Sha Collier has a different perspective — one that is a bit controversial. In a TikTok video, she claimed that teachers have to give their students tough love in order to succeed, and he said it's a major factor in why teachers are leaving the profession in droves.

Could empathy make a difference? Dr. Debarshi Roybelieves so.

As a behavioural scientist working on empathic social systems, and founder of an empathy diagnostic system called the School Empathy Audit Battery (SEAB) that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning, he believes psychological safety must be embedded in educational settings at a systems level.

His recent publication, Empathy Driven School Systems, positions empathy at the heart of effective educational design. It also outlines strategies to foster inclusion and emphasizes emotional intelligence.

The need for more empathic schools cannot be understated, especially in light of the mental health crisis and loneliness epidemic that young people face today. Consider these stats:

One term of empathy lessons in schools could lead to positive changes in behaviour, a study suggests.

Data was gathered from 900 pupils in six countries, who completed a video-led course developed by Empathy Studios.

The firm, founded by former science teacher Ed Kirwan, created the programme, which aims to increase empathy in students aged five to 18.

A study involving 900 students in six countries found that a short program of empathy lessons led to measurable, positive changes in their conduct, emotional awareness and curiosity about different cultures.

An analysis of a short program teaching empathy in schools has found it had a positive impact on students' behavior and increased their emotional literacy within 10 weeks.

The findings come from an evaluation of the Empathy Program: a term-long course developed by the UK-based Empathy Studios. The research was conducted with support from academics at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.

A study involving 900 students in 6 countries found that a short programme of empathy lessons led to measurable, positive changes in their conduct, emotional awareness and curiosity about different cultures.

An analysis of a short programme teaching empathy in schools has found it had a positive impact on students’ behaviour and increased their emotional literacy within 10 weeks.

The findings come from an evaluation of the 'Empathy Programme': a term-long course developed by the UK-based Empathy Studios. The research was conducted with support from academics at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge.

How do you teach empathy? Richard Weissbourd, the co-faculty director of the Human Development Psychology Program at Harvard’s School of Education, studies that very question.

“When you look at the state of the country today, you can see the consequences of our having demoted kindness and concern for the common good,” says Weissbourd, who directs the university’s Making Caring Common Project, which centers on the moral and social development of children. So he and his team have set out to put kindness and concern for others “front and center in child raising.”

Weissbourd argues that kindness is a muscle like anything else, and parents need to lead by example. In his view, kids should be expected to do chores, contribute to their community and help out neighbors in need. “Kindness develops when we practice it all the time,” he explains.

Inclusive education benefits both students with and without disabilities by fostering empathy, social skills, and a sense of belonging.

by Mazhar Abbas

Children's Health Scotland highlights the urgent need for educational reforms in Scotland to accommodate children with health conditions. Learn about the organization's advocacy for inclusivity and support.

The organization's plea for empathy and a shift in perspective towards school non-attendance issues marks a critical step toward ensuring that every child, regardless of their health condition, can access and benefit from education.

As Scotland stands on the cusp of educational reform, the collective efforts of organizations like Children's Health Scotland, educators, and the community at large could herald a new era of inclusivity and support within the educational system. This movement not only champions the rights of children and young people with health conditions but also paves the way for a more empathetic and understanding approach to tackling the complex challenges of school non-attendance.