The evolution of leadership
Leadership has changed. The leaders of the 1980s demanded authority. The leaders of today inspire loyalty through empathy and connection.
Empathetic, vulnerable leadership isn’t just another approach to management. In today’s workplace, it’s becoming essential. As Gen Z joins the workforce, we’re seeing a real shift—employees expect more than oversight. They want to be seen, heard, and valued as whole people, not just resources.
I started my career in the early ‘90s, and back then, the concept of “empathetic leadership” would’ve raised a few eyebrows. Strength was synonymous with control. Leaders managed from a distance, keeping a tight grip on decisions and results. But that style worked—until it didn’t. We were missing something fundamental: connection. And over time, the cracks started to show.
What Leadership Used to Be
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, leaders like Jack Welch at General Electric embodied the command-and-control style that had become the gold standard. Welch’s approach, known for ranking employees and cutting the bottom performers, was practically a playbook on “strength.” In workplaces that followed this model, competition was intense, empathy was nonexistent, and employees often felt expendable.
But that model ignored something critical: people. When leaders relied on authority without connection, it left employees disengaged and turnover high. In creative industries like advertising, where I spent my early career, this style clashed with the collaborative spirit needed to spark innovation. Over time, the industry and the workplace at large began to feel the impact of fear-based leadership. The cracks weren’t just in morale—they were in the very foundations of trust and loyalty.
The Emotional Intelligence Shift
Then, in the mid-90s, Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence shook things up. Here was this new framework suggesting that empathy, self-awareness, and social skills were actually critical to effective leadership. Suddenly, leaders everywhere had to wrestle with questions like: How does EQ factor into my success? Can empathy be a strength?
Goleman’s work planted the seed for a new approach. It was a turning point. We started to see that effective leadership could be about more than authority. Leaders were beginning to understand that vulnerability wasn’t a liability—it was an asset. It was the beginning of a shift that’s still reshaping leadership today.
What Leadership Means Today
Today, empathy isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s an expectation. Employees aren’t looking for perfection—they’re looking for connection. They want leaders who listen, who understand, and who show up as their whole selves. This is especially true for younger generations, like Millennials and Gen Z, who place a high value on transparency, mental well-being, and work-life balance. These new expectations mean that a top-down, authoritarian style simply doesn’t cut it anymore. Today’s leaders are called upon to create environments that foster well-being and authenticity, not just results.
The importance of empathy isn’t just about meeting expectations—it’s about unlocking the potential in every team member. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs gives us a clear roadmap: employees can only reach their full potential once their foundational needs are met. A sense of belonging, a feeling of security, and a belief that they’re valued—these are non-negotiables. And empathetic leadership directly addresses these needs, allowing employees to perform at their best.
The Future of Leadership
The role of vulnerability and empathy in leadership isn’t going anywhere; in fact, it’s only becoming more vital. As leaders, our focus is shifting from managing people to empowering them. We’re creating collaborative environments where everyone’s ideas matter, where trust is built through honesty and openness, and where teams work toward shared goals.
Technology will play a part in this evolution. Tools like AI are already helping leaders understand trends in team morale and engagement. But while tech can provide valuable insights, it can’t replace what makes leadership uniquely human. Empathy, trust, and connection are qualities that no software can replicate. The leaders who will thrive are those who can blend technology with the human touch, using data to inform but not replace empathy.
In the future, we’re likely to see the rise of even more collaborative leadership models. Agility and adaptability will be key, and leaders will focus on empowering others, not just on executing tasks. As social consciousness grows around issues like mental health, diversity, and inclusivity, leadership will continue to evolve to reflect these values. Empathy and vulnerability will become defining traits of strong leaders, and companies that fail to embrace this shift may struggle to retain talent or inspire loyalty.
Embracing Empathy as the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Workplace
Empathy isn’t just a trend; it’s the foundation of the future workplace. We’ve come a long way from the days of command and control, but we still have further to go. Vulnerable leadership builds connection, sparks creativity, and creates a workplace culture that people are excited to be part of.
For today’s leaders, empathy isn’t optional—it’s essential. As new generations continue to shape the workplace, leaders who embrace empathy and vulnerability will be the ones who thrive, creating organizations that are not just successful but truly fulfilling. And that’s a legacy worth building.