In this episode of the HC Leadership Podcast, Kyle and Kerry dive into one of leadership’s toughest balancing acts, knowing when empathy stops helping and starts hurting. Building on last week’s discussion on culture and accountability, they unpack how good intentions can quietly erode standards and create “toxic empathy.”

The hosts explore questions every leader faces:

• When does empathy cross the line into enabling?
• How can leaders show compassion without lowering expectations?
• Why does avoiding discomfort actually breed dysfunction?

From the firehouse to the boardroom, Kyle and Kerry share candid reflections on guilt, accountability, and courageous empathy, truth spoken with care. They challenge leaders to stop mistaking comfort for care and start leading with conviction, authenticity, and consistency.

Key takeaway: Empathy is a tool, not a strategy. Use it to guide your perspective, not your decision-making.