Empathy is a right-brain activity, the kind that many people consider a touchy-feely disciplinea soft skill, as its called these days. But at its core, empathy is a valued currency. Sometimes leaders need to get out of their own shoes and put on someone elses to truly understand what is happening around them. Cultivating empathy as a leadership skill allows you to create bonds of trust. It gives you insight into what others are feeling and thinking, and it helps you understand their reactions. At its foundation, empathy informs your decision-making by sharpening your perceptions and intuition.