How to be a more empathetic leader?

Yasmina Khelifi Senior Project Manager Paris, France

Dear wonderful community,

Empathy is a buzz word. We were talking about it with a colleague and we thought of the leaders we had who were empathetic and we did not find many.

1/ Why is empathy so much discussed and not applied?

2/ What are your ways, tools to be a more empathetic leader?

3/ what are you experiences, lessons learned with empathy in leadership?

thank you for your insights!

Posted: Jun 5, 2025 1:34 AM

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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada

Yasmina -

Empathy is just one of the quadrants in Goleman's EQ model. Without it, leaders cannot develop good relationships with stakeholders. Some people are naturally more empathic but anyone can improve their skills if they apply themselves. Self-awareness, receiving coaching and actively soliciting feedback are all ways to do so.

Kiron

Posted: Jun 5, 2025 7:26 AM

Pavan Maddi

Community Champion

Buona Vista, Singapore

Empathy isn’t weakness—it’s awareness. I check in regularly with my team beyond tasks, listen without interrupting, and ask “What support would help you now?” It takes time, but builds trust. Real empathy shows in action, not just words.

Posted: Jun 5, 2025 10:57 AM

Rami Kaibni

Community Champion

Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Yasmina, I think empathy is talked about so much because we know it matters but it’s rarely practiced because it takes time, presence, and emotional courage, which many leaders struggle to prioritize.

True empathy isn’t just about being kind, it’s about being deeply attuned to what others are experiencing, even when it’s uncomfortable. For me, the most powerful tools are active listening without trying to fix, creating space for honest conversations, and regularly asking myself: “What might this person need right now?”

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that empathy doesn’t make you less effective. On the contrary, it makes you more trusted, and trust is what unlocks real leadership.

Posted: Jun 5, 2025 12:24 PM

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How to be a more empathetic leader?

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