Issue 40: The Grateful Leader: What 40 Issues Have Taught Us
☕ Brewed for Leaders Who Care
Espresso & Empathy — Issue 40
By: Anita Martin & Shannon Foster
Martin & Foster Consulting
December 03, 2025
As we release the 40th edition of Espresso & Empathy, we find ourselves reflecting on something deeper than leadership strategies and HR insights.
Gratitude.
For the leaders who read these words each week.
For the conversations sparked.
For the workplaces being reshaped with courage, clarity, and empathy.
And for the reminder that leadership, at its core, is a relationship — one strengthened by understanding and appreciation.
This milestone is not just about longevity. It’s about impact.
And nothing deepens impact more than the intersection of empathy and gratitude.
Where Gratitude and Empathy Meet
Empathy allows us to see the world through the eyes of others.
Gratitude allows us to appreciate what we see there.
Together, they shape how we show up as leaders:
Empathy helps us understand the effort, challenges, and unseen emotional labor people carry.
Gratitude turns that awareness into appreciation, connection, and belonging.
Empathy moves us from “I see what you did” to “I see who you are.”
Gratitude turns that insight into acknowledgment.
This partnership is what makes leadership human — and what makes teams trust us.
How Gratitude Strengthens Empathy
Gratitude widens our perspective.
It softens frustration.
It invites us to slow down long enough to see the full story, not just the outcome.
When leaders practice gratitude consistently:
Patience increases
Curiosity expands
Understanding grows
Connection becomes the default, not the exception
Gratitude is more than a seasonal sentiment.
It’s a leadership discipline — one that elevates empathy from intention to action.
Five Ways to Lead With Both Gratitude and Empathy
Be intentional with appreciation.
Pause before reacting.
Celebrate progress, not just results.
Lift up small acts of good.
Reflect daily.
Leadership Self-Audit: How Are You Practicing Grateful Empathy?
Ask yourself:
Do I express gratitude in specific, meaningful ways?
When something frustrates me, do I pause to understand the “why” behind it?
Do I recognize emotional labor as much as performance?
Have I slowed down enough to notice what is working?
Am I leading with gratitude as intentionally as I lead with goals?
Empathy gives gratitude its voice.
Gratitude gives empathy its endurance.
Final Thoughts
As we reach this 40-issue milestone, we are reminded of what truly anchors leadership: empathy that listens and gratitude that speaks.
Thank you for being part of a community that believes leadership is more than managing tasks — it’s about elevating people.
Here’s to the next 40 issues, the next 40 conversations, and the next 40 opportunities to build workplaces where people feel understood, valued, and connected.