How empathy and heart-led leadership are crucial in creating a resilient, people-first culture of belonging, connection, and well-being.
Nearly one in four adults feel lonely. Even more feel disconnected, out of sorts, overwhelmed, and alone.
Shocking right? And sad. And close to home.
You’d think technology would allow us to connect better. But add change happening at breakneck speed, AI and all the other technology changes to organizations not yet equipped to serve the needs of their very real humans, and we find ourselves more isolated than ever—and in the middle of a loneliness and mental health epidemic.
Even Elmo can see that people are having a hard time. (If you haven’t seen his viral post on X, click here). Over 218 million views later, that beloved Sesame Street character helped us all learn the power of a check-in.
As I’m on the road speaking, coaching, and consulting with leaders and teams, team leaders tell me they’re struggling to connect with their people in this work-from-anywhere world with too much to do and too little time to do it.
We’re all battling our own “so-muchness.” In a rapidly changing world that never slows down, we’re all feeling like we can’t breathe.
And in this world of overwhelm and uncertainty when our teams feel like they can’t breathe, what should we do as leaders?
We give them our ears. A shoulder to cry on. And we lead with our hearts.
What It Means To Be a Heart-Led Leader
One of my personal core values and in my business is “Lead with Love.”
This sometimes makes leaders squirmy—not everyone is comfortable talking about “love” at work, but I will always challenge them with this:
- Do you want your team members to love their job?
- Do you want them to love working for your company?
- Do you want them to love coming to work each day?
- Do you want to love the results your team is getting and the impact you are making?
Here’s the truth: love isn’t just a warm and fuzzy emotion. It’s a powerful force that drives connection, collaboration, and resilience within teams. Heart-centered leadership prioritizes empathy, authenticity, transparency, and compassion. It places a strong emphasis on the well-being of your people and it fosters a culture of trust, belonging, respect, and genuine human connection. And it’s quickly gaining traction as a powerful alternative to the “command-and-control” leadership style of the past.
Because people are tired of being told what to do, how to feel, and who to be.
They want to be Valued, Seen, Heard, Appreciated and Understood. And it takes some love to do that. This is how you build a people-first culture.
Empathy: Making a Bigger Impact With a Soft Landing
I know, without question, that we can make a bigger impact by giving people a softer place to land in this hard world. And there is plenty of research to prove it.
- Empathy boosts employee engagement: According to research from The Workforce Institute at UKG, 74% of employees report they are more effective at their jobs when they feel heard. And it appears to go both ways—highly engaged employees are 3x more likely to feel heard than disengaged employees.
- Empathy increases job satisfaction and reduces turnover. A study by EY found that mutual empathy between company leaders and employees leads to an 87% increase in job satisfaction.
- Empathy increases productivity: Research from the Center for Creative Leadership shows that teams with leaders who display empathy report higher levels of satisfaction and productivity.
- Empathy is the antidote to burnout. The American Psychological Association reports that leaders who show empathy can drastically reduce workplace stress and improve overall mental health. Employees who feel supported by their leaders are less likely to experience burnout and more likely to contribute positively to their teams.
The common thread in all of these is undeniable human connection. We are most certainly better together and stronger when we recognize ourselves in others. We are never alone. Authentic, transparent connection is the heartbeat of life—and leadership.
Together, we vulnerable humans are a quantum force of nature; we survive and thrive through our shared experience, shared humanity, and collective resilience.
How To Start Leading With Your Heart.
In this new world of work, our offices mingle five different generations, all with different values, priorities, and communication preferences. Yet we all have a lot more in common than we realize. We all want to feel valued, seen, heard, appreciated, and, yes, loved.
Here’s how you can start leading with your heart.
- Active Listening: Make a conscious effort to listen without interrupting (hard) or assuming (harder) or judging (hardest). Show genuine interest and curiosity in your team members’ thoughts and feelings.
Momentum Boosting Tip: Sometimes we have to create a runway for better listening. Prompt your team to keep talking by saying things like “Tell me more.” and “Help me understand.”
- Open Communication: Foster a safe dialogue where team members feel good about expressing their ideas and concerns.
Momentum Boosting Tip: Use empathy to meet your team where they are. “When I first heard about this change, I was frustrated and freaked out, too. Now that I’ve had time to process, though, I think this is going to be an incredible opportunity for us. You’re just hearing about it and deserve time to work through what’s coming up—just know I’m here if you want to talk it through.”
- Personal Check-Ins: Just like Elmo did with this post, it’s always good to see how your team is doing—and not just with work. Show that you care about their overall well-being.
Momentum Boosting Tip: In addition to scheduling check-in meetings in advance and on a reliable cadence, take time each week to randomly ask your team how things are going – not just about work, but in their life. Look for ways to recognize or See/Hear them with rewards and recognition that they have said they value.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate empathy in your daily interactions. When team members see you practicing empathy, they are more likely to emulate this behavior.
Momentum Boosting Tip: Most leaders listen to solve a problem. While that may still be needed, practice first reflecting on the feelings you are hearing. “I hear you. That sounds so frustrating. And I know how much you value doing great work on the first round. Where do you think the disconnect was?”
To be clear, empathetic leaders do more than “put themselves in others’ shoes.” They create a safe space for expressions and feelings without judgment. They can get personal without taking things personally. And the good news is, you don’t always have to know exactly what to say—sometimes just acknowledging that you’re at a loss, but are willing to listen is enough. This is also how you build resilient teams!
Unstoppable Leadership – Love Has Everything To Do With It
From Google’s emphasis on psychological safety to Patagonia’s commitment to environmental stewardship, organizations have shown that resilient, heart-centered leadership isn’t just a feel-good philosophy—it’s a recipe for success.
When you show up as a leader in this way, it becomes easier to acknowledge different feelings, viewpoints, and opinions. I know and have seen with the leaders I coach that a leader who creates a safe space for expression, a place without judgment, builds deeper trust, understanding, and connection among team members. Leading with empathy and heart is not just about improving performance; it’s about cultivating a workplace where everyone feels valued, heard, and, yes, loved.
Remember, true resilient leadership isn’t just about the mind—it’s also about the heart. Let’s create Unstoppable Momentum with love — and build a people-first culture where everyone can thrive.
What is one thing you LOVE about what you do at work?
