Have you ever noticed someone in power who seems rather indifferent to the opinions of others? Perhaps you’ve witnessed a leader who doesn’t seem tuned in to the experiences of the people they lead.

It’s not just your imagination, and it may not be that the person was always like that. Instead, it appears that having power actually impairs a person’s ability to empathize. If that isn’t concerning enough, people are unaware of this power-induced tendency in themselves, thus falling victim to a blind spot.

What does this inherent bias look like in the workplace? Primarily, as an individual experiences increased power, they become increasingly less aware of other people’s perspectives.

How? Our brains are equipped with what are known as mirror neurons. These neurons are stimulated by seeing, hearing, or even imagining someone doing something. It could be physical activity, body language, or a facial expression that stimulates corresponding mirror cells as an observer. That stimulation provides an internal sense of what another person is experiencing. Research suggests that people in power may have decreased stimulation of their mirror neurons when interacting with those who have less power.

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