The Steep Decline in Empathy at Work | Coastal Edge Consulting

Описание: Over the past decade or so, work feels different.
People seem more reactive and less patient. Conversations seem to escalate faster and misunderstandings linger; exhaustion feels deeper than something a long weekend can fix.

At first, it’s easy to assume this is just burnout, ADHD — or a tough year. But there’s proven research suggesting something bigger is happening.

Studies tracking empathy levels over several decades show a significant decline in empathic concern and perspective-taking since the late 1970s and early 1980s, with the sharpest drop occurring in the last couple of decades. One of the most widely cited bodies of research comes from social psychologist Sara Konrath, whose work points to a roughly forty percent decrease in measurable empathy over time.

This video explores what that decline looks like in today’s workplaces — and why it matters for leaders.

I unpack how constant cognitive overload, digital communication, performance-driven cultures, and ongoing global uncertainty are shaping how people show up at work. Not because they care less, but because many are operating under sustained pressure with very little emotional margin.

You’ll also hear about:

How reduced compassion shows up in teams and leadership behaviours

Early warning signs leaders can watch for in themselves and others

Why empathy isn’t about being “soft,” but about staying regulated enough to make good decisions

Small, practical ways leaders can influence workplace culture — often without saying a word

This isn’t about blame or moral failure. It’s about understanding the systems we’re all working within — and recognizing that when conditions change, behaviour follows.

If you’re leading people through uncertainty, change, or high demands, this conversation may help you make sense of what you’re seeing — and how to respond in a way that keeps work human.

If you found this helpful, please like, subscribe, and explore other videos on the channel focused on leadership, systems thinking, and the human side of work.

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Coastal Edge Consulting hones in on leadership development - with practical advice and tips that can be implemented right away. Topics such as building effective team cultures, change management, ways to navigate complex work environments, and the future of work - particularly with the introduction of AI.
If you are a new, emerging, or experienced leader, there is always room to develop and grow. Leaders are learners... and we never run out of skills to learn when we lead. Subscribe to this channel and follow this leadership development series in which each episode will offer solutions, share stories, and provide techniques to real challenges faced by today's leaders. Expertise is drawn from decades of practical experience and propped up with formal education. My motto is to 'keep on striving' as a reminder to always push to improve because leadership is a never-ending journey! Visit my company website at www.coastal-edge.ca to learn more about who we are and what we offer.