When will we finally be ready for sensitive and emotionally aware leaders?

How often have you heard this before? “There’s no place for emotions in management” or “In business and elite sports, you can’t afford to be soft.”

According to this mindset, most top positions are still filled today. What’s needed are tough personalities—preferably “Teflon-like,” especially in times of crisis. After all, they can make difficult decisions without breaking under the pressure. They steer the organization with a firm hand through rough waters—and everything will be fine.

Such leaders may work in a world that is predictable and simple. In certain situations—especially during turnarounds—it can help to have a leader who moves forward with a clear vision and a firm hand.

But it’s no longer that simple in 2025. The world is complex, technological developments are multifaceted, and the competitive landscape is difficult to grasp. This ambiguity and uncertainty can be clearly seen in the example of mobility: what is the technology of the future—electric, hydrogen, or should we stick with conventional engines for a while longer? Who really knows? For every option, there are valid pros and cons—and yes, people long for simple answers. But unfortunately, those are becoming increasingly rare.

Leadership in 2025 increasingly means tolerating and navigating dilemmas—rather than controlling and directing them. That’s why we need more sensitive leaders—and fewer “tough guys”—at all levels of our organizations. Recent studies show that the more deeply people feel situations, the better they are at perceiving others’ emotions and managing conflicts. Sensitivity also leads to greater awareness of social injustice and shortcomings. As a result, sensitive individuals are more motivated to drive change and support others.

The only problem is that this sensitivity also comes at a cost. Being sensitive often goes hand in hand with being emotionally vulnerable. Such individuals can feel overwhelmed by intense emotions or the negative moods of others. They also tend to worry excessively about others’ opinions, which can lead to se
But the moment you show these feelings, you quickly risk being labeled as “soft”—and as we all know, that’s supposedly the last thing we need in a crisis. And so the cycle continues: sensitive and emotionally aware individuals withdraw because their vulnerability is immediately judged, while the less sensitive remain—or rise—to power. This phenomenon is currently quite evident in the United States.

It’s time we finally recognize empathy, sensitivity, and emotional awareness for what they truly are: the foundation of genuine connection and trust. And we all know—without trust and collaboration, there is no performance.