In today’s business world, an increasing focus on technology is quietly weakening the human connection at work. According to Korn Ferry’s September study, The Risks of De-Prioritizing Emotional Intelligence, only 38% of leaders see emotional intelligence as a priority, and only 20% value team engagement. The research shows that neglecting emotional intelligence directly harms engagement, innovation, and productivity.
Leaders are struggling to carry their teams’ emotional weight, especially in hybrid and digitally transformed workplaces. Remote or flexible setups often weaken interpersonal ties, and physical distance quickly turns into emotional distance. Many leaders find themselves under constant pressure to deliver results while safeguarding their teams’ psychological resilience. Over time, this balance gives way to task oriented communication, replacing dialogues that prioritize empathy.
As technology and AI skills gain prominence, organizations are placing greater value on measurable outcomes. But the more we focus on metrics, the easier it becomes to overlook human needs. Communication shortens, feedback weakens, and people start feeling unheard. True leadership, however is more than just positive results. It’s about investing in people’s emotions, motivation, and trust. Korn Ferry experts warn that the absence of empathy lowers morale, but more than that, it also undermines collaboration, creativity, and innovation.
To restore balance, companies must integrate empathy and emotional intelligence training into their leadership strategies. Within a healthy corporate culture, leadership should be defined not by targets alone, but by a genuine understanding of people. Including empathy metrics in performance reviews will help make these skills measurable and visible.
As highlighted by our Founder Jilda Bal in her Harvard Business Review Türkiye article, Rediscovering Empathy in Leadership*, human centered leadership is more than just an ethical choice, it’s the foundation of sustainable performance. As technology advances, the value of emotional intelligence will only grow. Tomorrow’s leaders won’t be defined by how well they manage data, but by how deeply they understand people.