Leading Beyond Borders Starts with Empathy
- Mays and Associates Staff
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
Leadership is often measured by what happens inside an organization: stronger teams, clearer strategy, better communication, and improved results. But some of the most powerful leadership lessons are found when we step outside our familiar environments and see the needs, strengths, and realities of others more clearly.
Leading abroad is not simply about taking action in another country. It is about expanding one’s awareness, listening before solving, and understanding that meaningful impact begins with humility. For leaders, this mindset is essential whether they are working across cultures, guiding a team, serving a community, or navigating organizational change.
Travis Tajman, Founder and CTO of HarborLink Network and a Rotarian, described this clearly when discussing international service work on Episode #20 of the PinLeader™ Podcast.
“The characteristic that’s most important is empathy, not sympathy,” he said. “Anybody can go, ‘Oh, God, I feel sorry.’ You need to understand. You need to understand the plight. You need to understand somebody’s perspective.”
That distinction matters. Sympathy may recognize a problem, but empathy seeks to understand the people living within it. Sympathy can create distance; empathy builds connection. For organizations, this same principle applies to employees, clients, and communities. Leaders who pause long enough to understand what people are experiencing are better equipped to make decisions that are relevant, sustainable, and human-centered.
The work of leading abroad also reminds us that leadership is not about entering a situation with all the answers. Tajman noted the importance of relying on local knowledge and setting aside assumptions: “Let them guide you on here, just keep your eyes open, and let’s learn so we can make the best impact.” That is a powerful leadership practice. The best leaders do not lead by dominating the room. They lead by listening, observing, learning, and then acting with purpose.
This is especially true when the need is complex. Tajman’s reflection on helping communities gain access to running water speaks to the deeper responsibility of leadership: “You don’t build a wall, you go build a water well.” In other words, leaders look beyond symptoms to address root causes. They seek solutions that restore dignity, increase opportunity, and create lasting change.
At Mays & Associates, we believe leadership development is rooted in awareness, character, and intentional action. Whether across the globe or across the conference table, leaders are called to ask better questions, listen more deeply, and build strategies that serve people well.
Where is empathy calling you to lead with greater understanding and make a more meaningful impact?
Presented by ROAR Productions, The PinLeader™ Podcast is an interview format show hosted by Mays and Associates, Ltd. President & CEO Dr. Shanda Gore, that provides effective tips to those who are currently leaders or have a desire to become leaders. A new episode is released every Wednesday.