Why Empathy and Resilience Are the Real Power Skills of the Future
By Sonia Vora
All Credit Kiritvora AI
Why Empathy and Resilience Are the Real Power Skills of the Future
It was one of the hardest moments of my leadership career. I had stepped in as interim CHRO during a chaotic period—half the team had left, morale was on the floor, and a major project had the rest of us stretched thin. At an all-staff retreat, I laid out a vision—not just a plan, but a reason to believe in the future. The room went silent. Then someone raised their hand and said, “I want to believe you. I really do. But I just don’t. For a second, I felt exposed. I could’ve powered through or shut down the comment. Instead, I walked toward her, said, “I understand,” and gave her a hug. That was the shift. In that moment, we weren’t just colleagues—we were humans. Years later, another colleague who had been in the room told me: “That’s the story I tell when people ask what empathetic leadership looks like.
If you feel like the world is heavier than it used to be, you’re right. Mental Health America’s 2024 report shows nearly 60 million adults experienced mental illness last year. And access to care is limited: 340 people for every one provider. Most shortage areas only meet 27% of care needs.
If you feel like the world is heavier than it used to be—you’re right. Mental Health America’s 2024 report shows nearly 60 million adults experienced mental illness last year. And access to care is limited: 340 people for every one provider. Most shortage areas only meet 27% of care needs.
“Your team isn’t distracted—they’re drowning. Empathy is the lifeline.”
Narrative Example
As CHRO, I made it a priority to get our team comfortable and excited about using AI. A junior team member sent out a flawed AI pilot invite to 90 people. Three emails later, the link was still not working, and she was mortified. I hit “Reply All” and told her this is why we pilot. We learn. We grow. Months later, someone told me: “That’s what psychological safety looks like.”
“When you lead with empathy, people don’t just work harder—they believe harder.”
The Link Between Empathy and Resilience
Empathy creates space for people to try. Resilience gives them the strength to keep going. Resilience is the ability to recover—and sometimes transform—after adversity. According to ADP, 50% of the variance in employee engagement is explained by resilience. A CIPD study confirmed that high-quality relationships between leaders and their teams directly improve psychological resilience, especially in tough times.
all credit kiritvora AI
Practical Ways to Lead with Heart
- Reframe failure as growth. Ask in reviews: “What would you do differently next time?
- Ask what they need—really ask. And be ready to listen past the surface
- Give questions in advance. Vulnerability flows when people feel safe to prepare
- Model mindfulness. Try a team meditation, or share your own stress strategies. (Box breathing counts.)
“You don’t need to change your personality to lead with heart. You just need to see the person in front of you.”
My Own Path Through the Fire
I’ve been shaken. I’ve doubted myself. I’ve been told by respected leaders that I didn’t have what it takes. I’ve written through it in journals, walked through it in meetings. But I kept going. Because when we stayed resilient through that storm in HR, we didn’t just survive—we transformed. Two years later, we were the strongest, most aligned team in the organization. We delivered. We thrived.
“I’ve walked through the fire. And the team we built on the other side could move mountains.”
The Legacy We Leave
Empathy is not about being nice. Resilience is not about being rigid. They’re about being human—and building workplaces where humanity isn’t a liability, it’s the advantage. Every interaction is a chance to connect. Every setback is a lesson in power.
“The future of work isn’t built on technology. It’s built on trust.”
Invite Sonia Vora to speak on Heart-Centered Leadership.
She brings stories, science, and a strategy for leading with purpose.