Never can the criticality of Empathy be undervalued. We have all realised it. However, what one may be
unmindful of is the fact that until empathy is regulated by boundaries & limits of 'Values', it has deep potential to destroy character of the enterprise.
Unregulated empathy blinds objective decision making, leads to mindless ' insider' protectionism and
destroys 'fairness' in the warp & woof of the Corporate texture.
'My man Right or Wrong'....limitless insider empathy can cause lapses in a leader's ethical judgment. Aren't we experiencing this in the current 'Starwars of Bollywood' being dramatically played out in the SSR Murder-Suicide controversy? The problem stems not from aggression towards outsiders but from mindless empathy & loyalty towards insiders. In psychology, such is referred to as 'Ostensible Altruism'.
In corporate set-ups, it leads to otherwise wise leaders blocking Whistle-Blowing & protecting insider perpetuators of sexual harassment, frauds, drug-abuse & brutality.
The unintended consequence of this leads to demoralising faith of others in the corporate fairness & governance thus destroying, disengaging & disconnecting other employees from their very belief in the enterprise Vision & Purpose.