Instinct vs Insight: Why Empathy Beats Assumption in Leadership

Leadership decisions are often justified as instinctive. Many leaders pride themselves on gut feel, experience, or intuition developed over years of practice. While experience matters, I believe one of the greatest risks in modern leadership is confusing instinct with insight. Instinct without empathy often leads to assumption, and assumption is one of the fastest ways to disconnect from reality.

Assumptions fill the space where listening should sit. When leaders rely too heavily on instinct, they may believe they already understand what motivates their people, what is causing performance issues, or how change will be received. In reality, these conclusions are often shaped by personal bias, past context, or incomplete information. Empathy replaces assumption with understanding.

Empathetic leadership is rooted in insight rather than inference. Through listening, curiosity, and attention, leaders gather real time information about how work is experienced. This insight allows leaders to make decisions that are more accurate, relevant, and effective. It also reduces the risk of unintended consequences that often arise when leaders act on assumption alone.

Listening-Led Leadership is central to this shift. Leaders who listen to understand rather than to validate their own views gain access to perspectives they would otherwise miss. Employees who feel listened to are more likely to share concerns, challenge ideas, and offer solutions. This openness strengthens decision making and improves organisational outcomes.

Neuroscience explains why assumption can be so damaging. When people feel misunderstood or misjudged, stress responses increase and trust declines. Over time, this leads to disengagement and withdrawal. When leaders seek insight through empathy, they create environments where people feel safe to contribute honestly, improving both morale and performance.

I have seen leaders misinterpret silence as agreement, compliance as commitment, and productivity as wellbeing. These assumptions often mask underlying issues that eventually surface as burnout or attrition. Empathy allows leaders to look beneath surface behaviour and understand what is actually happening.

Insight also supports adaptability. In complex and rapidly changing environments, past experience may no longer apply. Leaders who rely solely on instinct risk repeating outdated patterns. Empathy keeps leaders connected to current reality, enabling them to adjust strategy and communication as conditions evolve.

Importantly, empathy does not negate experience. It enhances it. Insight gathered through listening complements instinct, grounding decisions in lived experience rather than perception. This combination allows leaders to act with confidence and humility at the same time.

I believe the most effective leaders are those who remain curious and recognise that understanding is never a complete journey. Listening is an ongoing practice and we all need to intentionally commit to. Simple but never as easy as it seems. The most followed leaders are those who continually show that they understand their teams. Will you be one of them?

About Mimi Nicklin:
Mimi Nicklin is a globally recognised keynote speaker, bestselling author, and Founder of Empathy Everywhere, working with organisations worldwide through leadership development, training, keynotes, masterclasses, and webinars. Recognised as the #1 Workplace Wellbeing leader, Mimi has reached over four million people globally through her work in empathetic leadership, listening, and Listening-Led Leadership, helping organisations strengthen employee engagement, workplace culture, and performance in complex, AI driven environments. Her work reframes empathy as a critical leadership capability grounded in neuroscience and applied through practical empathy training and organisational development. With a mission to reconnect one million people by 2028, Mimi Nicklin is emerging as one of the defining human leadership voices of this decade. Find out more via www.empathyeverywhere.co or [email protected]