Issue 34: Today’s Brew: Empathy—It’s Not Just for Work
☕ Brewed for Leaders Who Care
Espresso & Empathy — Issue 34
By: Shannon Foster
Founder & Senior Consultant, Martin & Foster Consulting
October 22, 2025
We talk about empathy a lot in the context of leadership. Listening. Understanding. Responding with compassion.
But empathy isn’t a skill you switch on at 8 a.m. and off at 5 p.m. It’s a way of being—and when you strengthen it, the impact reaches far beyond your workplace.
Empathy doesn’t just make you a better leader.
It makes you a better colleague, friend, partner, and human being.
Empathy as a Life Skill
When you truly learn to listen without judgment, to seek understanding before responding, and to see the world through another’s eyes—you build connection. And connection is what holds teams, families, and communities together.
The benefits ripple outward:
At work, empathy fuels collaboration, creativity, and trust.
At home, it deepens relationships and reduces conflict.
In life, it helps you see people as they are—not as you assume them to be.
In a world filled with noise, empathy is the quiet skill that cuts through.
How Strengthening Your Empathy Muscle Changes Everything
Empathy is like any muscle—it grows with intentional use.
Here’s what happens when you practice it regularly:
You communicate more effectively.
By truly listening, you respond to what people mean—not just what they say.
You build emotional resilience.
Understanding others’ perspectives broadens your own, helping you respond thoughtfully instead of reactively.
You create trust wherever you go.
Empathy bridges differences and builds safety—whether it’s across a conference table or a dinner table.
You lead with integrity.
Empathetic people don’t just do what’s right when it’s easy; they do it when it’s hard, because they understand the impact of their choices.
A Leadership (and Life) Self-Audit
Ask yourself:
Do I listen to understand—or to reply?
When someone frustrates me, do I pause to consider what might be driving their behavior?
Do I bring the same compassion home that I give to my team?
Have I practiced empathy today in a way that made someone feel seen or valued?
Do people feel calmer, safer, or more understood after interacting with me?
If your answer to any of these is “not often enough,” that’s your invitation to start small—one conversation, one moment at a time.
Final Thoughts
Empathy isn’t weakness—it’s awareness.
It’s how we stay human in a world that moves too fast and connects too little.
Whether you’re leading a team, supporting a friend, or navigating a tough moment at home, empathy is what reminds people they matter.
And when people feel seen, they don’t just perform better—they live better.