The Day Empathy Taught Me to Lead Differently

"Is empathy a curse—or the key to stronger leadership? Linda Cureton shares how feeling others’ emotions shaped her leadership, built trust, and even led to an unforgettable Peking duck story."

In this clip from The Next Level Paycheck, Linda Cureton explores the power—and the pain—of empathy in leadership.

She recounts moments where empathy allowed her to:

• Sense frustration and unspoken disappointment in colleagues

• Recognize emotions that weren’t her own, but deeply affected her leadership

• Shift her approach from managing people as customers to treating them as true partners

• Build lasting trust and cooperation with her team

And in a lighter moment, Linda reveals how one colleague’s empathy—and a surprise trip for Peking duck—helped her through a tough day, proving that sometimes the smallest gestures can create the strongest relationships.

For mid-level professionals striving to break the $70K–$80K ceiling, this episode shows why empathy isn’t weakness—it’s a management superpower.

Hashtags:
#Empathy, #LeadershipSkills, #EmotionalIntelligence, #CareerGrowth, #LindaCureton, #TheNextLevelPaycheck, #ProfessionalGrowth, #WorkplaceTrust, #LeadershipStories, #EQ

TAGS

empathy in leadership, emotional intelligence, career growth, Linda Cureton, The Next Level Paycheck, leadership skills, emotional intelligence at work, building trust in teams, empathy as management tool, leadership stories, professional growth tips, cooperation and trust, mid-level professionals, career plateau solutions, workplace relationships, breaking the income ceiling, leadership mindset, conflict resolution skills, EQ in the workplace, women leaders