Author Archives: Amy Kay Watson

How to See Your Team’s Work Clearly Without Smothering It

empathetic leader checking team progress without micromanaging

This article unpacks key findings from Melody Wilding’s HBR article, “How to Stay on Top of Your Team’s Projects–Without Micromanaging” and explains how leaders can turn research into practical strategies for managing performance with empathy and accountability. Table of Contents Why This Article Matters Leaders are under constant pressure to know what’s happening inside their

Hands Off, Mind In: Presence, Not Pressure.

Focused woman leaning forward at her desk, calmly engaged —present and attentive without intervening.

Summary: This article explores the concept of “mind-in, hands-off” leadership—a way of managing that prioritizes presence over control. Drawing on personal examples and the influence of Katharine Graham’s leadership style, it emphasizes the value of staying mentally engaged without micromanaging. The article also discusses how this same mindset applies when working with generative AI: true

Empathy Is a Bold Leadership Strategy—Not Weakness

Summary: This article unpacks key findings from the 2025 State of Workplace Empathy Report and explains how leaders can turn research into practical strategies for managing performance with empathy and accountability. Table of Contents One of my first coaching clients was a minister who felt trapped and under fire. Her staff resisted her leadership. Her

Holding the Tension: How Empathy Supports Lasting Change

Three visuals representing tension: a relaxed blue rubber band, part of a red band snapping from pressure, and a person pulling a taut rope anchored by a hand—illustrating the difference between slack, breaking, and held creative tension.

Summary: Empathy isn’t about rescuing—it’s about staying present with the discomfort of growth. This post explores how leaders like Michele Lewis Reeves hold the tension between current reality and future potential, guiding performance improvement without collapsing into quick fixes. Through real stories and the lens of creative tension, it offers a model for lasting change.

Why Empathy Is the Leadership Advantage Today

Summary This article unpacks key findings from Why Empathetic Leadership Matters Now More Than Ever and explains how leaders can turn research into practical strategies for managing performance with empathy and accountability. Table of Contents Why Do People Care So Much About Empathy in Leadership? This article is about something you probably already know in

Why Team Stress Is A Manager’s Business

Summary: This article unpacks key findings from the HBR article Employee Stress Is a Business Risk—Not an HR Problem and explains how leaders can turn research into practical strategies for managing performance with empathy and accountability. Table of Contents Why This Report Matters The report’s core message is that stress is a systemic business risk

You Don’t Have To Be A Hero: Leading Through The Messy Middle

Image of a lighthouse surrounded by a storm at sea, a towering wave crashing against the side of the lighthouse under darkened skies as the light beams.

An Update from Amy: This post on “Hero Mode” has been expanded! The story you’ll read below is now the introduction to my complete framework, “The Leader as Regulator.” To get the full diagnostic toolkit, tactics, and scripts for leading through change, please click here to read the new, consolidated article. When I heard that Dan

Self-Promotion Can Be Both Accountable and Empathetic

A thoughtful team member updates a whiteboard, symbolizing leadership through clarity, accountability, and quiet communication.

If you struggle to talk about your accomplishments without feeling uncomfortable, you’re in good company. For many professionals, self-promotion can feel like boasting, bragging, or stealing attention from others. But there’s a more generous way to think about it: valuable self-promotion lives at the intersection of empathy and accountability. It’s about making your contributions visible