April 2, 2025 – “Tariff Day.” Today, President Trump’s new tariffs take effect, and businesses and global markets are reacting with uncertainty dominating the headlines.

For many business leaders, the instinct is to hunker down and weather the storm. But days like today aren’t just about markets. They’re about people. And the unasked question they ask of us is, “When our world becomes unpredictable, how will you show up?”

Elon Musk’s claim that empathy is a weakness? Last week, I argued the opposite: Empathy is your superpower. “Empathy is how you keep people with you – not just working for you,”. Today, those words ring true. In a crisis, empathy isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have leadership stance that inspires confidence when others are frightened.

In turbulent times, three types of leaders emerge:

• Wait and See – The majority stand back and defer decisions, laying low and “waiting for clarity” – often at the cost of morale.
• Play It Safe – Some take half-measures, opting for the safest path – trimming budgets and delaying projects to weather the storm. It feels prudent, but it’s just playing not to lose.
• Lead with Empathy and Courage – Then there’s the rare 10% of leaders who take bold action guided by their values. They communicate openly, make tough calls, and double down on supporting their stakeholders. They lean in when others lean back.

Which kind of leader am I being today?

It’s tempting to go with the 90% who wait or play it safe. Bold action in a crisis can feel intimidating. However, we have agency; we can choose to be part of that 10%.

You can decide to lead with clarity, empathy, and courage. You cannot control tariffs or market responses, but you 100% control your response.

What does that look like in practice?

It means showing up for those who depend on you. Your employees, customers, and investors are watching closely.

• What if you hold an all-hands meeting to share with your team what you know and what you don’t and assure them that you’ll navigate this together?
• What if you call a key customer or supplier to say, “We’ve got your back through this”
• What if you reassure your investors by sharing a plan to weather this volatility without compromising your values?

In short, people want to know you hear and understand their concerns and that you’re acting on their behalf. Empathy-driven leadership calms, builds trust, and creates loyalty that outlasts any single crisis.

Why push yourself to be among the top 10%?

How you lead in turbulence will define you when skies clear. People won’t forget the leader who guided them through uncertainty. They also won’t forget the one who went missing when things got tough.

Playing it safe isn’t safe. It erodes trust and loyalty, while leading with empathy and courage creates resilient teams and loyal customers.

So, on this day, Tariff Day, what kind of leader will you be? Will you wait and see? Or will you step up? The choice is simple. We can cling to safety, or we can stand by our values and our people.

Choose the bolder path. The one guided by purpose, empathy, and courage. Your employees, customers, and investors are looking to you for direction and reassurance right now. This is your opportunity to demonstrate what leadership truly means.

Let’s rise to the occasion and be the leaders our stakeholders need. It’s time to prove that empathy is not a weakness but a superpower in times of crisis.

Let’s unlock better – together.