“No one turned their camera on. No one said a word. Worst Zoom ever? Nope. It changed the way I lead forever.”
Back then, a few years ago, I was the Head of Corporate Promotions. I used to run weekly virtual meetings with promotion staff across all our branch offices.
But one particular Monday felt… different.
I logged in.
All cameras off.
Mics muted.
Just profile pictures.
It felt like I was speaking into the void. And yes—I took it personally at first.
But instead of pushing for visibility or control, I paused and chose empathy. After the Zoom meeting, I personally reached out to each team member—not to lecture, but to ask:
“Are you okay? How can I support you better?”
One answered, “My toddler was sick. I was listening while holding her.”
Another said, “Honestly, I’m burned out.”
And one of my closest team members, who usually supports me at HQ and works with me daily, opened up to me, “We live in a small house with no privacy. I had to join the Zoom meeting from the kitchen, — right in the middle of all the noise and chaos.”
Imagine-even the people we work with daily, our closest colleagues, can be struggling with something we never notice.
That day, I learned leadership isn’t about presence. It’s about presence of mind. Sometimes leadership means showing up… even when no one else can.
💬 Ever felt like you’re talking to a wall in a Zoom meeting? That day, I did. How about you. Tell me👇
#EmpatheticLeadership #RemoteWorkRealities #TeamCulture #LeadershipGrowth
#EmpatheticLeadership #RemoteWorkRealities #TeamCulture
LinkedIn (Full Article Here) : https://www.linkedin.com/posts/evi-pane-9475a036_empatheticleadership-remoteworkrealities-activity-7352280918838972416-poN0?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAePy0cBVDKTpYgFiXsXVgs2JMpCHwxItto
