Written by Howie Chan
(Read the Feb 1, 2026 issue HERE)
You’re a leadership coach and you’ve been invited to speak at a leadership retreat for 100 mid-level managers.
It’s your shot at a year-long consulting contract.
The topic? “Empathy in Leadership.”
Everyone before you has said the same thing: listen more, care more, feel more.
But you? You’re about to make them feel something different.
Title: Leading with Empathy in Challenging Times
You walk on stage in a blazer and slacks. You open with, “Leadership is about empathy. In times of uncertainty, people need to feel heard and understood.”
You share a story about a manager who overcame burnout, quote a Harvard Business Review stat, and close with, “Remember: people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
The audience nods.
They clap politely.
And then they check their phones.
Nothing wrong with it — it’s smart, safe, and professional.
But safe never stands out.
Title: Empathy Is Overrated — And Why You’re Pedaling Yourself into Burnout