TLDR: A February 2026 report in Forbes by Bryan Robinson identifies a critical “Empathy Gap” in modern leadership, where 60% of CEOs view empathy as a perk rather than a necessity. This disconnect is particularly damaging during periods of external stress or national trauma, where the expectation of “business as usual” erodes employee trust. Growth Dynamix addresses this through Module 4: Social Awareness, providing leaders with the tactical tools to recognize and respond to the emotional climate of their teams, effectively closing the gap and securing organizational performance.
The 60% Disconnect: Why Empathy is a Strategic Asset, Not a “Soft Perk”
A recent report by Bryan Robinson in Forbes (February 2026) has sparked a global conversation about a widening “Empathy Gap” in the workplace. The report highlights a stark reality: while teams are carrying the weight of external stressors and national trauma into their daily tasks, nearly 60% of CEOs still view empathy as a “perk” rather than a business necessity.
At Growth Dynamix, we’ve seen this “mismatch” firsthand. When leadership ignores the emotional reality of their teams, the result isn’t just low morale. It’s a direct hit to team velocity, decision-making, and ROI.
1. The High Cost of the “Business as Usual” Mindset
The Forbes article points out that critics are increasingly frustrated with the expectation that they can simply “shake off” external trauma the moment they log in. This is the Empathy Gap in action,the space where leadership’s strategic goals lose alignment with their team’s capacity to execute.
In the South African corporate context, where volatility is a constant factor, the “business as usual” approach acts as a barrier to high performance. It creates a culture of “Quiet Quitting” and erodes the psychological safety required for innovation.
2. Social Awareness: The Bridge Across the Gap
Within our Emotional Intelligence: From Awareness to Action framework, we treat empathy not as a “warm feeling,” but as a diagnostic human skill.
Module 4: Social Awareness is specifically designed to give leaders the “Professional Perception” needed to read the room during times of crisis. It involves:
- Identifying External Stressors: Recognizing that a drop in performance may be a reaction to external newscasts or economic shifts rather than a lack of skill.
- The Empathy Map: A tactical tool to move from assuming how a team feels to knowing how they feel, allowing for a more precise leadership response.
3. Turning Awareness into ROI
Forbes notes that when empathy is treated as a necessity, organisations see a significant uptick in trust and motivation. By closing the Empathy Gap, leaders unlock:
- Reduced Friction: When people feel seen, they communicate more openly, reducing the wasted spend associated with misaligned tasks.
- Enhanced Resilience: Socially aware teams are better equipped to navigate change because they feel their leaders are “in it” with them.
- Sustainable Growth: You cannot build a visionary empire on a foundation of burnt-out individuals. Empathy is the fuel that keeps the Persona Integra (the whole person) engaged.
4. Moving Beyond the Perception of “Perks”
If your organisation still views emotional intelligence training as an optional extra, you are likely operating within the very gap Forbes is warning about. In 2026, the leaders who “win” aren’t those who ignore the trauma. They are the ones who have the Social Awareness to lead through it.
