Issue 46: Today’s Brew: Sharpening the Empathy Muscle—Turning Intention into Daily Practice
☕ Brewed for Leaders Who Care
Espresso & Empathy — Issue 46
By: Shannon Foster
Founder & Senior Consultant, Martin & Foster Consulting
January 14, 2026
Let’s Talk: Empathy Doesn’t Improve on Its Own
Last week, we asked an important question:
Is one of your goals this year to be more empathetic?
But setting the intention is only the beginning.
Empathy, like leadership itself, is not something you “decide” once and move on from. It’s a skill. And skills require practice, awareness, and regular sharpening.
Without intention and action, even the best leadership tools grow dull.
Why Empathy Needs Maintenance
Most leaders genuinely care about their people.
But good intentions don’t always translate into consistent behavior—especially under pressure.
Empathy erodes when:
Calendars are full
Stress is high
Conversations feel repetitive
Leaders default to efficiency over connection
That’s not a character flaw. It’s a signal.
Empathy isn’t lost—it’s just overdue for maintenance.
Sharpening Your Empathy Tools as a Leader
Sharpening empathy doesn’t mean adding more to your plate.
It means being more intentional with what’s already there.
That might look like:
Slowing your response instead of rushing to solve
Asking one more question before giving direction
Checking your assumptions before reacting
Noticing who hasn’t spoken—and inviting them in
Being fully present for five minutes instead of distracted for thirty
These aren’t grand gestures.
They’re small adjustments that change how people experience you as a leader.
When Empathy Is Sharp, Leadership Feels Different
Leaders with a sharpened empathy muscle:
Catch issues earlier
De-escalate tension faster
Build trust more consistently
Hold accountability without fear
Create space for honesty instead of defensiveness
Empathy doesn’t weaken authority.
It strengthens credibility.
Leadership Self-Audit: Is Your Empathy Tool Sharp—or Dull?
Ask yourself:
Do I listen to understand, or to respond?
Have I become impatient with issues that feel familiar to me?
Do I notice when stress changes how I show up?
Am I creating space for conversation—or just completion?
When was the last time I intentionally practiced empathy?
If empathy feels harder lately, that’s not failure.
It’s feedback.
Final Thoughts
Empathy isn’t a New Year’s resolution.
It’s a leadership discipline.
And like any discipline, it requires reflection, recalibration, and care.
Sharpen your tools.
Stay intentional.
And remember—how you show up matters just as much as what you achieve.