Category Archives: Uncategorized

Some Leaders Have an Empathy Allergy. I Could Have Gone That Way

A close-up from behind, two older men stand side-by-side wearing dark navy suit jackets, against a blue sky. Their gray-white hair is visible at the top of the frame. The focus is on the back of their jackets.

When leaders seem to have an empathy allergy, I pay attention. You can recognize the symptoms of an empathy allergy when the leader in question shows a defensive reaction to empathy itself. It isn’t mere discomfort with it, but an active, disproportionate rejection. That’s a pattern you’ve probably noticed. The leaders who are quickest to

The Empathy Trap – When High Care Becomes Low Agency

Sarah had told her team a dozen times: “Don’t worry about the weekends. You’ve got it covered.” But she couldn’t stop herself from calling anyway. Every Saturday morning, she’d check in. Every Sunday afternoon, she’d send a quick message. Just to make sure everything was okay. Just to make sure no one was struggling. It

Kindness that Delivers Results

Diverse team in a calm discussion, an empathetic leader leaning in, listening attentively.

Kindness as a Leadership Imperative This article unpacks key findings from “Why Kindness isn’t a Nice to Have” by by Nicki Macklin, Thomas H. Lee and Amy C. Edmondson and explains how leaders can turn kindness from a “nice to have” into a practical, performance-driven management discipline. Table of Contents Why Kindness Matters More Than

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

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