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Empathy is often talked about as a “soft skill,” but in reality, it can be one of the most powerful leadership strategies for building trust, improving collaboration, and helping teams perform at their best.

When leaders understand the experiences and stories that shape how people think, communicate, and respond under pressure, they can lead in ways that make team members feel truly seen and supported. But empathy at work isn’t just about being kind or having surface-level conversations. It requires curiosity, listening, and taking action based on what you learn.

This week’s guest shares practical ways leaders can bring empathy into everyday workplace interactions, from asking better questions to creating small moments where team members can share their stories and build stronger connections.

Leilani Garrett spent more than two decades in corporate sales and leadership, navigating high-stakes environments, leading teams, and closing multi-million-dollar deals. Today, she’s a creative force redefining leadership, connection, and culture through storytelling. Her work bridges personal growth and organizational impact, helping leaders and teams break down silos, build trust, and show up more fully human.

In this conversation, we explore how empathy strengthens leadership, why curiosity is essential for understanding your team, and simple activities managers can use to create deeper trust and collaboration.

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Conversation Topics

• (00:00) Introduction

• (02:29) What empathy really means at work

• (04:19) Recognizing our shared humanity

• (06:46) Creating space for honest conversations with your team

• (08:50) Why listening matters more than relating

• (12:11) Identifying procedural roadblocks that affect your team

• (15:47) Why curiosity is essential for empathetic leadership

• (17:59) Recognizing and celebrating quiet contributors

• (19:46) Building trust by repeating what people say

• (22:18) Why teams stop sharing personal stories over time

• (26:03) Examples of empathetic leadership in practice

• (31:39) [Extended Episode Only] Questions that spark meaningful conversations

• (33:16) [Extended Episode Only] Using stories to bring empathy into decisions

Additional Resources

✨Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/modernmanagerpodcast 

✨Visit my website for more: https://www.mamieks.com/ 

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✨Subscribe to my YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7jhYz8b16g1SsLia4EhO5w?sub_confirmation= 

✨Read the full transcript here

Keep up with ​​Leilani Garrett

- Connect with Leilani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilanigarrett/

- Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lahhnee/

Guest Bonus (available to members of Podcast+): 20% Off Leilani’s Services

Leilani provides leaders and teams with tools to communicate more honestly, lead more empathetically, and thrive collectively.

Learn more about her services here.

Discount is available through August 2026.

👉 To get this guest bonus and many other member benefits, become a member of The Modern Manager Podcast+ Community: https://themodernmanager.com/more 

The Modern Manager is a leadership podcast for rockstar managers who want to create a working environment where people thrive and great work gets done.

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