The Empty Chair Principle

The Empty Chair Principle

From Learn to Lead by Abilitie

November 12, 2025 · 7 min · Episode 143

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of including absent stakeholders in leadership decisions.

What if your most important stakeholder isn’t sitting at the table? In this episode, we explore how great leaders givea voice to those who aren’t in the room. From Amazon’s “empty chair” representing the customer, to Procter & Gamble’s “Living It” approach to empathy, to The Mayo Clinic’s groundbreaking inclusion of patients in decision-making. The lesson is clear: leadership isn’t just about who’s speaking, it’s about who’s being heard. — Learn To Lead is brought to you by Abilitie, a leading provider of experiential learning. Abilitie’s simulations and leadership programs have inspired over 100,000 professionals in more than 50 countries. To learn more about Abilitie and about our host Matthew Confer, visit the links below: Abilitie Leadership Development - https://www.abilitie.com The Learn To Lead Podcast - https://www.abilitie.com/learn-to-lead-podcast/ Host Matthew Confer: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewconfer/ Matthew’s TEDx Talk on Decision Making - https://www.ted.com/talks/matthew_confer_before_you_decide_3_steps_to_better_decision_making Make sure you subscribe to our show to ensure you get our next episode when it is released.

People in this episode

Host: Matthew Confer

Topics covered

  • leadership
  • stakeholders
  • empathy
  • decision-making
  • inclusion

Keywords

  • leadership
  • stakeholders
  • empathy
  • decision-making
  • inclusion
  • Amazon
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Mayo Clinic

Sponsors

Abilitie

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Amazon, Procter & Gamble, Mayo Clinic

More episodes of Learn to Lead

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Learn to Lead podcast page.