In Part 1, The Meritocracy of Empathy, we established how emotional intelligence has become a cornerstone of effective leadership in today’s volatile business landscape. Leading with empathy isn’t just admirable, it’s a strategic imperative.

Yet, despite mounting research and real-world validation, empathy faces persistent resistance. Critics argue it softens accountability, hinders performance, or clashes with demanding work cultures. These concerns aren’t trivial; they highlight the persist...