Page 5 - Here and Now – Apr 2024

The Power of Inclusive Empathy in Leadership

In the face of unexpected and rapid changes in the
workplace, leaders have experienced a strong need to
adapt. Inclusion and empathy are two fundamental
concepts that play pivotal roles in fostering
harmonious relationships, promoting diversity, and
building supportive communities and organizations.

Inclusion refers to the practice of creating environments
where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to
fully participate. Empathy is our ability to put ourselves in the shoes
of others and to understand what another person is experiencing. More
empathetic leaders may be more effective at fostering diverse and inclusive
workplaces.

"Inclusive-empathy" is a term coined by Yoshie Tomozumi Nakamura, Julia Milner, and Trenton
Milner in their research examining the intersection between inclusion and empathy in

organizational leadership contexts.

Nakamura, Milner, and Milner's research underscores the significance of inclusive-empathy in
building more equitable and inclusive workplaces. In this article, we delve into when and how
to actively cultivate the practice of inclusive-empathy, especially by those who are
unaccustomed to this approach, so they can intentionally initiate and sustain the practice of
inclusive empathy in everything they do.

Understanding and Reflecting on Patterns

One of the first steps in the process is to recognize, comprehend, and

reflect upon the subtle patterns and routines that may have developed
in the workplace. Identifying these nuances through self-reflection can
be a challenging task, yet it is essential for the process of fostering a
more empathetic leadership style.

A practical tool emerges from leadership consulting to guide leaders on this transformative
journey: the inclusive-empathy visual mapping approach. This technique incorporates

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