In many cases, employees don’t quit jobs—they quit managers. What traits, though, do managers who drive away workers exhibit? Better yet, what should they do to drive retention and employee satisfaction? While it might seem like a moving target for many, the answer is straightforward. Empathy. Ninety percent of US workers believe empathetic leadership leads to higher job satisfaction and 79 percent agree it decreases turnover rates. However, 54 percent say they’ve left jobs because their boss wasn’t empathetic. “Empathy used to be an overlooked and underestimated trait in leadership. And if the events of the last two years have taught us anything, it’s how valuable empathy is in cultivating employee and client relationships,” said Marcelo Bartholo, deputy vice chair of consulting for EY Americas, the firm that conducted the study. Empathy isn’t about being nice, though. There’s more to it than that, and if you’re faking it, the results can be counterproductive. According to the study, genuinely empathetic leadersare those who are open, transparent, fair, consistent, and communicative. Listen to employees’ needs and try to put yourself in their shoes. What would you need if the roles were reversed?