TRUTH Is Not the Enemy of Empathy
Emotional intelligence (EI) has the capacity to recognize and manage emotions in us and others, and it is tightly linked to effective leadership. Emotional intelligence (EI) is often misunderstood as being soft. But it’s really about strength—the ability to confront difficult TRUTHS with grace.
Dr. Travis Bradberry writes, "Emotional intelligence is the ability to make emotions work for you, instead of against you." That’s exactly what OneTRUTH Leaders do: They don’t hide from emotions—they listen to them, then ask, “What’s the TRUTH behind this feeling?”
Let’s try some examples: A colleague may be angry. Is it a power struggle—or are they afraid of being irrelevant? An employee may be resistant. Is it stubbornness—or self-protection? TRUTH turns defensiveness into understanding.
Transformational leaders...are those who stimulate and inspire followers to both achieve extraordinary outcomes and, in the process, develop their own leadership capacity. Transformational leaders help followers grow and develop into leaders by responding to individual followers' needs by empowering them and by aligning the objectives and goals of the individual followers, the leader, the group, and the larger organization.
In OneTRUTH Leadership, honesty about feelings and empathy are part of honoring TRUTH. A leader with high EI is not ashamed by admitting uncertainties or stress; instead, they own those TRUTHS and use them to connect. Daniel Goleman defines EI as “our capacity to be aware of, to control, and to express emotions”. Leaders with this skill handle relationships with empathy and self-awareness and build cultures of open communication. OneTRUTH Leaders are transformational leaders.
When TRUTH and empathy combine, communication transforms. It’s no longer about being right—it’s about getting it right. That’s the sweet spot where leadership becomes transformational. The world needs leaders who can identify emotions for what they are but not be ruled by them. Who can love people enough to tell them the TRUTH—and be kind enough to tell it in a way they can hear.
Research confirms that emotional intelligence pays off. When employees feel understood and valued, they engage more deeply. One study found that higher EQ among leaders is directly linked to greater employee engagement and productivity. In fact, managers who show empathy to their teams are seen as better performers by their bosses.
In contrast, leaders who ignore feelings often breed distrust. We remember times when a boss lacked people skills and left us deflated. The TRUTH is that emotional honesty builds trust. If team members know you’ll listen and care, they won’t hesitate to bring you problems or new ideas.
Key components of emotional intelligence:
OneTRUTH Leaders uses emotional intelligence to strengthen bonds. They practice active listening, not just hearing words but sensing the truth behind them. They share appropriate vulnerability (“Here’s what worries me…”) to show authenticity. By aligning their words and actions – as one author put it, “Integrity is making sure that the things you say and the things you do are in alignment”– they create a safe space for honesty. This emotional integrity means colleagues know the leader’s reactions are genuine.
In the end, being adept at emotions doesn’t mean softening the TRUTH. Rather, it means delivering TRUTH with humanity. A OneTRUTH Leader cares about the impact of TRUTH. They balance candor with compassion so that staff can trust them even when the news is hard. Answering the TRUTH of our feelings helps us act boldly yet thoughtfully.
Reflection: How can you use your self-awareness and empathy to foster a more truthful and trusting team environment?