In our experience, leaders are still primarily selected based on their technical expertise. However, to attract diverse, interdisciplinary and equally skilled teams to change initiatives, social skills are more important. One of the most important skills for effective change leadership is empathy. And it is more than just being nice. It’s about deeply understanding the experiences of others, recognizing their feelings, and responding with genuine care. This ability not only helps foster strong, supportive relationships within teams. But it can also play a crucial role in addressing one of the most significant challenges faced in today’s workplace – the gender mental health gap.

Understanding the gender mental health gap

The gender mental health gap refers to the differing experiences of mental health challenges between men and women. Studies consistently show that women are more likely to experience conditions such as anxiety and depression than men. Men, on the other hand, are often less likely to seek help due to societal expectations around masculinity than women. This gap is fueled by a variety of factors, including social expectations, workplace dynamics, and the invisible emotional labor that disproportionately falls on women.

For team leaders, understanding the existence of this gap is the first step in addressing it. This is quite challenging. But our partner and psychologist Verena Schinerl has good news: “Executives can get support with this challenging task through individual coaching or empathy training.”

Empathy, as a core leadership trait, can help bridge this divide by fostering an environment where all team members feel heard, supported, and empowered to seek help when they need it. Such an environment is similiar to psychological safety in change initiatives, which we discussed lately.

Why empathy matters for team leaders

1. Building Trust and Emotional Safety: Empathy is crucial for building trust within a team. When team members feel that their leader truly understands and cares about their experiences, they are more likely to feel safe expressing themselves. This is particularly important for women, who may feel more vulnerable discussing mental health challenges in environments that lack emotional safety. By showing empathy, leaders can create a culture where individuals feel comfortable sharing their struggles, which is essential for closing the gender mental health gap.
2. Recognizing Unseen Challenges: Empathy allows leaders to recognize the often invisible challenges that team members face. Women, for example, may be balancing a significant amount of unpaid caregiving work in addition to their professional responsibilities. Understanding these pressures and offering flexibility or additional support can make a huge difference in their well-being. For men, empathy can help leaders understand the stigma they may face in expressing vulnerability, encouraging a more open dialogue about mental health.
3. Encouraging Open Dialogue: Empathy paves the way for open conversations about mental health. When leaders model empathetic behavior—such as actively listening, validating feelings, and sharing their own experiences—they create a safe space where team members of all genders feel empowered to speak up. This is especially important for men, who may feel more comfortable discussing mental health issues when they see leaders embracing vulnerability.
4. Reducing Burnout and Promoting Well-being: Empathy-driven leadership can reduce burnout by recognizing when team members are struggling and proactively offering support. Women often face a greater risk of burnout due to the dual demands of work and home life. Empathetic leaders can help mitigate this by offering flexible work arrangements, redistributing workloads, or simply providing a listening ear. For men, empathetic leadership can encourage healthier work-life balance and challenge harmful expectations that they must always be “tough” and resilient without showing signs of stress.

viadoo podcast episode on empathy

As a leader, is it possible to learn empathy from scratch? To empathise with the emotions of your team members and imagine what they are thinking or feeling? In this seventh edition of our ChangeTALK podcast, we discussed these questions. And we talked about how leaders can train empathy and use it to ensure the success of their change initiatives. Also on the agenda: The different types of empathy and what executives can do to develop their empathy.

You can watch the full recording (30 min.) of the conversation between our two protagonists, Verena Schinerl and Dr. Dominik Faust, on our YouTube channel or listen to it on Spotify:

How leaders can cultivate empathy

1. Practice active listening: One of the simplest but most effective ways to show empathy is to really listen to your team members. This means giving them your full attention. Asking thoughtful questions, and acknowledging their feelings without judgment. Active listening helps team members feel valued and understood.
2. Be vulnerable and authentic: Empathy starts with vulnerability. Leaders who are willing to share their own challenges and emotions set the tone for their teams. By being open about your own mental health struggles or moments of difficulty, you signal to your team that it’s okay to have these conversations and that they won’t be judged for it.
3. Educate yourself on mental health: Understanding the basics of mental health can help leaders respond with greater empathy. This includes knowledge of how different genders may experience it. And it involves learning about common mental health conditions and recognizing signs of distress. As well as understanding the unique pressures faced by different members of the team.
4. Tailor your support: Empathy means recognizing that everyone is different. Some team members may need flexibility, while others may need validation or encouragement. Leaders should make an effort to understand the specific needs of their team members and offer support accordingly.
5. Create a culture of inclusivity: Empathy should be at the core of an inclusive workplace culture. Leaders can promote inclusivity by recognizing the diverse challenges faced by different genders and making sure that everyone feels seen and supported. This could involve implementing family-friendly policies, supporting mental health initiatives, or simply ensuring that no one feels left out of important conversations.

Empathy can bridge gender mental health gap

Empathy is a powerful tool for leaders who want to create functional, resilient, and supportive teams. By using empathy to understand and address the unique mental health challenges faced by different genders, leaders can help bridge the gender mental health gap, creating an environment where everyone – regardless of gender – feels heard, valued, and empowered to thrive.

Our psychologist Verena Schinerl recently addressed the gender mental health gap for one of our customers: After a scientific keynote speech, Verena had the members of this network work out how managers can best contribute to the gender-specific mental health of their employees. Possible reactions to this gap, according to the participating executives, could be to change priorities, clarify roles and expectations and improve one’s own communication. The development of psychological safety or empathy training would also be useful.