A systematic review of empathy and leadership

Abstract

Empathy, though not a new concept in the medical profession, is a new phenomenon discussed in management and leadership literature. Leaders need to be mindful and critical of where they get their information about how and when to be empathetic in business. The best knowledge a leader can use is supported by elevated research. The purpose of this study is to examine the evaluated research about leadership and empathy to better understand what evidence supports the claims being made in popular press about the role of empathy in leadership. The findings from this study reveal four themes -- ethics and leadership, educational institutions role in teaching empathy, trust, and emotional intelligence. The findings indicate that there is a limited amount of evaluated research evidence to support the directions espoused in popular press articles. Though many academics suggest that empathy is important for leaders to foster in order to reach objectives and better the bottom line, more research needs to be conducted.