Are you leading with empathy—or just making decisions?
Too many leaders think empathy is a “soft skill” that gets in the way of making hard choices. But in reality, the best leaders know that empathy is a competitive advantage. We’ll cover how you can have that Empathetic Edge over other leaders who don’t value empathy in leadership.
In high-stakes situations, it’s easy to prioritize results over relationships. We have a saying in the military that it’s “people first, mission always.” Mission will always be a priority, but without the people, we wouldn’t be able to complete the mission. Don’t forget about your people! Leadership isn’t just about making decisions—it’s about guiding people through them. When you lead with empathy, you build stronger teams, deeper trust, and better long-term results.
So, how do you stay empathetic while making tough calls? Let’s break it down.
Clarity eliminates confusion. People respect a leader who owns their choices.
The Leadership Dilemma: Balancing Strength and Compassion
Have you ever faced a situation where you needed to be both firm and understanding? Maybe you had to one or more of the following:
- Let a team member go while still honoring their contributions.
- Hold an underperforming employee accountable without breaking trust.
- Make a tough business decision that impacted your staff’s workload.
Or maybe, like me, you’ve had to juggle leadership at work and at home. You know that your kids, spouse, or employees are looking to you for both clarity and care.
The Solution: Leading with Empathy and Action
The key is active listening and decisive action.
- Listen First. Before reacting, take the time to understand. Ask questions. Hear their concerns. Make them feel seen and valued.
- Acknowledge and Validate. People don’t need you to fix everything—they need to know you care. Even if you can’t change the situation, recognizing their struggles builds trust.
- Make the Decision and Communicate Clearly. Once you’ve listened and considered perspectives, make the call and stand by it. Clarity eliminates confusion, and people respect a leader who owns their choices.
Empathy in Leadership at work and at home
I learned this lesson both in leadership and in fatherhood.
I could remember a recent story about empathy in leadership. During a mission, one of my team members was underperforming. He was distracted, making mistakes, and not meeting expectations. This was not like him. My instinct was to push harder—but I noticed something was off. Instead of reprimanding him, I pulled him aside. Turns out, he was dealing with a family crisis. That small moment of listening and support changed everything. He felt valued, his performance improved, and he became even more committed to the mission.
The same thing happened with my Wife a while back. She was going through a challenging time at work. My first reaction was to give her advice—”Here’s how you fix it.” But she didn’t need a solution. She needed me to sit with her in that moment, listen, and show her I cared.
We’ve been told before, especially if you’re in the military how we can’t be “softee” as a leader. “Results only, don’t care how you do it.” But I’ve learned over time that empathy isn’t about being soft. It’s about being strong enough to connect first. Then lead forward.
The New Challenge: Balancing Empathy with Tough Decisions
But what happens when the stakes are high and a decision needs to be made fast?
That’s where leaders struggle. They fear that too much empathy will slow them down. It might weaken their authority. Additionally, it could blur the lines between personal and professional.
The truth? Empathy and decisiveness aren’t opposites—they are partners, working together. When you connect first and decide second, people follow not just because they have to, but because they trust you.
Call to Action: Master Empathetic Leadership
So, how do you lead with both heart and strength?
I’m hosting a live masterclass on Empathy in Leadership—where I’ll break down practical strategies to:
✅ Make tough calls without losing trust.
✅ Balance strength with connection in leadership and parenting.
✅ Create a culture of respect, loyalty, and high performance.
If you want to lead with both confidence and care, join me for this exclusive training. Let’s get on a call and sign up here.
Conclusion
Empathy is not weakness—it’s the key to powerful, authentic leadership. The strongest leaders connect before they correct, listen before they lead, and make tough decisions without sacrificing trust.
Let’s make leadership both strong and human.
Ready to elevate your leadership? Sign up for my masterclass today.
