Empathy Still Matters in a World That's Rushing

A RISING CORPORATE star I met at a leadership workshop recently said something that's been echoing in my head for days.

- Srinath Sridharan

She was sharp, articulate, and carried herself like someone used to being ten steps ahead. We were discussing team dynamics, gender bias and emotional awareness when she shrugged and said, almost casually but with certainty, “Empathy is a liability these days. It slows you down.”

'No Space for Feelings'

But then what do we expect from a world that teaches you to measure success in click rates and quarterly results? Across office corridors, coffee catchups, and WhatsApp groups, I’ve heard its variations. “There's no space for feelings here.” “You've got to protect your energy.” “Empathy doesn’t pay.” “Just go for the kill”. They're becoming belief systems.

But empathy is not weakness. It is not a detour from performance. It is not a favour we offer when convenient. It is a value system. It is the lens through which we decide what kind of people we want to be - at home, at work, and in the world.

Disagreeing Without Dismissing

We see it around us more often than we realise. When someone lowers their voice in the presence of elders. When a colleague silently covers for someone having a tough week. When a neighbour leaves a warm dabba at your door after hearing of a loss. They're cultural muscle memory. They're how we were raised - to look out for others. To not walk past discomfort. To feel before fixing.