The Intentional Workplace (2014) blog includes the pointed reminder:  "To Have Empathy for You, I Have to be Able to SEE You."

The Psychology Today (Segal, 2019) article was written in response to the government shutdown, but her comments about power and empathy are important for any time. She says, 

"First, those at the top do not need to attend to the behaviors of those below them, especially in the ways that those below have to attend to the behaviors of their superiors. Bosses come in, tell people what to do, and then their orders are followed.  Those below must be aware of the mood, needs, opinions of their bosses.  And the lower you are on the work or social order, the more moods, needs and opinions of people you must attend to who are above you.  So, lower hierarchy folks are better at reading others than are those at the top.  Second, getting to the top may be easier for those without empathy.  They can be laser-focused on advancement and doing what they need to do to gain power without being distracted or emotionally touched by the needs and circumstances of others.  Brain science backs this up.  Neurologically, people in power attend less to surroundings, to the behaviors of others, and have deeper brain activity for self-focus.  They don’t readily attend to others in ways that we expect to show empathy.  People in power can be empathic, but they need to work at it, to want to feel for others...."