Empathy is one of the most powerful leadership skills available to us, yet it’s consistently underestimated.

It’s dismissed as a “soft skill” or a nice-to-have, rather than the performance driver decades of research show it to be.

This week, Grace is joined by Chartered Psychologist Louise Weston to explore why empathy is a genuine leadership essential. Together, they examine the three core elements of empathy and unpack what the research actually shows – from how empathetic leaders deliver feedback, to its impact on physical and mental wellbeing, and the critical role it plays in team performance during uncertain times.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

References:

• Muss, C., Tüxen, D. and Fürstenau, B. (2026) ‘Empathy in leadership: a systematic literature review on the effects of empathetic leaders in organizations’, Management Review Quarterly, 76, pp. 333–369.