While empathy is widely celebrated as a hallmark of good leadership, managers may benefit from keeping some emotional distance. New research from Zety and SIGMA Assessment Systems suggests that in environments where difficult calls are routine, emotional detachment can be an asset.
Analyzing nearly two decades of SIGMA’s proprietary Jackson Personality Inventory - Revised (JPI-R) assessments across more than 4,000 managers, the Empathy in Management Report reveals that managers score lower than the general population across the Emotional cluster, which measures emotional sensitivity through empathy, anxiety, and cooperativeness subscales.
Although industry differences exist, even the highest-scoring manager groups (health/medicine, HR) are still below the population average, with construction and wholesale/retail trade ranking lowest.
Lower Emotional Sensitivity Is Common in Leadership
Among JPI-R’s five clusters, the Emotional cluster stood out as the only area where managers scored below the general population (50th percentile) across all traits. These include:
- Empathy: 27th–39th percentile
- Anxiety: 21st–29th percentile
- Cooperativeness: 33rd–47th percentile
"Our research draws on thousands of assessments to identify patterns in how managers score across key personality dimensions. The results show distinct trends, especially within the emotional domain.”
Industry Differences: Lowest & Highest-Scoring Managers
Men tend to score lower than women on measures of emotional sensitivity, and some sectors are more male-dominated. While managers in the most people-oriented industries scored the highest in emotional sensitivity, even after accounting for gender, they still remained below the population average.
Sectors with the highest emotional sensitivity:
- Health/Medicine
- Human Resources
Sectors with the lowest emotional sensitivity:
- Wholesale/Retail Trade
- Construction
These differences suggest that the interpersonal and operational demands of each industry may influence the level of emotional responsiveness required in leadership roles.
Are Managers Less Empathetic or More Decisive?
While the findings may sound counterintuitive, the pattern reflects the realities of management, where leaders are regularly required to make difficult, high-stakes decisions.
Managers’ lower scores on the JPI-R Emotional cluster point to a leadership style characterized by composure, independence, and lower stress reactivity, rather than traditional models of empathetic leadership. In fast-paced environments, these traits support decisive action and reduce the need for broad consensus when quick judgment is required.
That said, the same qualities that enable tough decisions can also create distance. Leaders with lower emotional sensitivity may appear less approachable or miss early signs of team concerns, making it important to balance decisiveness with active listening and regular engagement.
For press inquiries, contact Skyler Acevedo, Public Relations Specialist, at skyler.acevedo@bold.com.
Methodology
SIGMA analyzed assessment data from 4,000+ managers between June 2006 and April 2025 using a validated personality tool (JPI-R). Managers represented various industries across North America, including administration, advertising/marketing/PR, construction, education, electrical/utilities, engineering, health/medicine, human resources, IT, manufacturing, public safety, transportation and logistics, and wholesale and retail trade. Mean scores on personality traits and clusters were analyzed for industries for which there were at least 100 data points. The findings were compiled and co-presented by Zety, who authored the accompanying report and career insights.
About Zety
Zety resume templates and Zety's Resume and Cover Letter Generator are trusted by 12 million users each year. With 100s of options to choose from, including professionally designed resume templates to beat the ATS, users can create a professional resume in less than 15 minutes. Since 2016, Zety’s career blog has provided free data-driven insights to over 40 million readers annually, empowering professionals at every stage. The editorial team includes Certified Professional Resume Writers, with the best career advice and evidence-based findings featured in Business Insider, CNBC, and Forbes, among others. Follow Zety on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram for free expert career tips and updates.
About SIGMA Assessment Systems
For more than 50 years, SIGMA Assessment Systems has been helping organizations future-proof their leadership through scientifically validated personality assessments, executive coaching, and strategic consulting. Partnering with leading academics, SIGMA advances research in leadership development, emotional intelligence, and leader character, creating innovative tools that drive measurable impact. With millions of assessments conducted, SIGMA’s solutions are trusted by Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, universities, and healthcare organizations. SIGMA’s data-driven approach uncovers the traits and competencies that matter most for leadership success, empowering organizations to build resilient, diverse, and high-performing executive teams.