If you asked someone to describe me, I doubt they would call me bubbly or loud. More likely, they would say I am kind, thoughtful, and easy going. That is the kind of environment I want to create for my team, and it is not an accident.
A lot of people see empathy as a weakness in leadership, but in my experience it has been one of the strongest tools I have. Empathy is not about lowering standards or letting things slide. It is about understanding where people are coming from, what pressures they are under, and how they work best, then using that understanding to help them succeed.
To me, empathy is not about being nice, it is about being human. It allows me to give feedback that builds confidence instead of tearing it down. My team trusts that I am there to help them grow, and because of that trust, they are more willing to bring new ideas forward, to ask for clarity, and to be open about their challenges. That trust does not just make people feel good, it directly improves the quality of the work.
In creative work, empathy is especially important. No two people approach the process the same way, and individuality is what makes creative teams thrive. Some people need structure while others need freedom, and some are detail focused while others think best in big ideas. My role is to set the framework, to keep goals clear and priorities in focus, but within that space I want my team to experiment, to take risks, and to find their own path.
In practice, empathy looks simple. It means listening before reacting, asking questions instead of making assumptions, and looking at the why behind someone’s work rather than just the what. It means giving feedback that encourages growth rather than shutting someone down. One of my main leadership mantras is: "always assume the best until the worst is proven." Someone missed your edits completely? Maybe they weren't sent correctly. Ask before reacting.
When empathy is part of leadership, everything changes. People feel seen, teams collaborate more easily, and ideas flow instead of getting stuck. The culture becomes one where people want to share, want to push boundaries, and show up fully.
I have seen how empathy reshapes not only how a team feels, but also the quality of the work we produce. For me, empathy is not just one part of leadership. It is the reason leadership works.
