HLI Week 4: Empathy & Vulnerability — Courage, Connection & Psychological Safety

Leadership requires more than knowing what to say. It also requires the ability to understand others, recognize what is happening within ourselves, respond intentionally, and create environments where people can contribute honestly.

In this Hawk Leadership Institute session, students will build on their work in effective communication by exploring empathy, emotional intelligence, vulnerability, and psychological safety. Through discussion and interactive activities, students will practice listening for understanding, responding to others without immediately fixing or assuming, separating facts from the stories and emotions they create, and recognizing how everyday leadership responses can either encourage or discourage questions, feedback, disagreement, and help-seeking.

Students will also apply these concepts to their Collaborative Leadership Projects by examining whose perspectives may be missing from their current understanding and identifying questions that can strengthen stakeholder engagement. The session builds directly from HLI’s scaffolded leadership-development experience and emphasizes courageous, relational leadership in practice.

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Co-hosted with: Hawk Leadership Institute