---
title: "Why Leading With Empathy Matters More Now"
id: "61353"
type: "post"
slug: "why-leading-with-empathy-matters-more-now"
published_at: "2023-01-25T19:00:12+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:07:36+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/01/25/why-leading-with-empathy-matters-more-now/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2023/01/25/why-leading-with-empathy-matters-more-now.md"
excerpt: "Leaders can no longer only say they care about their employees’ wellness, they need to show it and model self-care behaviors. Two association experts share practical suggestions for managing employees in a time of heightened anxiety."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Executive Leadership"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Associations Now"
  - "C-suite"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
  - "C-Level"
  - "Director"
  - "Executive Team"
  - "Manager"
  - "VP"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

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Part of the Deep Dive[Leadership Reimagined](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/leadership-reimagined-a-new-era-for-execs/)
Inflation. The looming threat of recession. A divided political climate. Continuing pandemic concerns. These stressors, and more, are causing heightened anxiety among your employees, members, and volunteer leaders.

Since March 2020, rates of anxiety and depression have increased significantly, according to findings from the American Psychological Association’s [Stress in America survey (opens in a new tab)](https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2022/concerned-future-inflation)
. In fact, the most recent APA survey “shows a battered American psyche, facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control.”

Rather than expect staff to simply push their anxieties aside during working hours, executives should embrace empathetic and compassionate strategies to successfully lead employees.

[Christine Umbrell](https://associationsnow.com/author/christine-umbrell/)

Christine Umbrell is a freelance writer based in Herndon, Virginia.

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/christine-umbrell/)

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