READING 1

Question 1

Humanistic Leadership: A New Model for Modern Challenges

Answer 1

The article talks about humanistic leadership as a necessary response to global crises, outdated corporate models, and shifting employee expectations. It argues that leadership today must go beyond efficiency and shareholder value to embrace individual flourishing, corporate sustainability, and the common good.

Question 2

Why Humanistic Leadership?

Answer 2

• The “Great Resignation,” low employee engagement, and global uncertainty have exposed the limitations of traditional, efficiency-driven management.
• Pressures from climate change, inequality, distrust in institutions, and technological disruption (e.g., AI) are reshaping expectations for leadership.
• Employees are now the most valuable asset, but talent development is often neglected in favor of tech investment.
• A more balanced, people-centered approach is now urgently needed.

Question 3

Defining Humanistic Leadership

Answer 3

Humanistic leadership is defined by:

1. Treating people as holistic individuals with complex needs and motives.
2. Focusing on the growth of both leader and followers.
3. Balancing organizational goals, individual well-being, and social impact.

Question 4

Four Core Pillars for Implementation of Humanistic Leadership:

Answer 4

1. Self-Knowledge
   - Leaders must recognize their own strengths, contradictions, and limitations.
   - Requires humility, inner peace, and emotional regulation.
   - Avoids projecting personal struggles onto others.
2. Work Compass
   - Leaders need a strong sense of direction and purpose.
   - Must align organizational goals with individual meaning, creating shared motivation.
   - Work should be worth doing and rewarding.
3. Trust and Empathy
   - Built through dialogue, autonomy, feedback, and shared responsibility.
   - Empathy involves anticipating team challenges and fostering a culture of care.
   - Trust encourages over-responsiveness: people give more when they feel cared for.
4. Desire for Positive Impact
   - Leaders should strive for meaningful impact on society, beyond profits.
   - Humanistic leadership rejects greenwashing and seeks authentic contribution.

Question 5

Several leadership theories partially overlap with humanistic leadership:

Answer 5

1. Transformational Leadership (Bass & Steidlmeier, 1999):
   - Focuses on individual growth, learning, and justice.
   - Lacks emphasis on self-knowledge and societal impact.
2. Authentic Leadership (Walumbwa et al., 2008):
   - Emphasizes coherence, moral values, and transparency.
   - Risks moral rigidity and lacks focus on broader societal outcomes.
3. Ethical Leadership (Brown et al., 2005):
   - Centers on principles, trust, care, and communication.
   - May over-prioritize rationality at the expense of emotional/spiritual awareness.
4. Sustainable Leadership (Ruiz, 2021):
   - Prioritizes social and environmental impact.
   - Risks neglecting internal performance and leadership skills.

Question 6

Toward an Integrated Model

Answer 6

• Humanistic leadership remains fragmented; current models emphasize parts of the picture but miss full integration.
• An ideal model would integrate:
  1. Individual well-being and flourishing
  2. Organizational efficiency and profitability
  3. Societal responsibility and environmental regeneration