Empathy is the key
July 7, 2026
By Lane Byrum
SHIFT Company
As we close the chapter on Pride Month and settle into the days after celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday, I’ve found myself thinking about one word:
Empathy.
Two very different observances. Two very different conversations. One opportunity.
It seems to me that somewhere along the way, we’ve begun treating understanding as though it’s a compromise of conviction. It isn’t.
Empathy doesn’t ask me to abandon my beliefs. It doesn’t ask you to abandon yours.
It simply asks us to suspend judgment long enough to understand another person’s experience. To say, “Help me see what it’s been like to be you.” That’s a remarkably human question.
Whether we’re talking about sexual orientation, politics, faith, race, or any of the countless ways we differ, empathy reminds us that every opinion belongs to a person with a story. A story we probably don’t know.
Understanding isn’t agreement.
It isn’t endorsement. It isn’t surrender. It’s simply the decision to recognize another person’s humanity before evaluating their perspective.
I sometimes wonder what would happen if we became just a little less interested in winning debates…and a little more interested in understanding the people having them. Because a healthy society doesn’t require us to think alike.
It does require us to remember that we’re neighbors before we’re opponents.
For me, that’s where empathy begins. And perhaps that’s where unity has its best chance to grow.
Great leadership isn’t just about driving results—it’s about bringing out the best in people. Lane Byrum partners with organizations to help leaders develop the self-awareness, empathy, and emotional intelligence needed to build trust, strengthen culture, and create teams that thrive.
If you are interested in exploring what Empathy can do for you and your business, please reach out to Lane Byrum, Director of Corporate Accounts & Emotional Intelligence Coach at SHIFT Company –[email protected].
