HUMAN-CENTRIC LEADERSHIP IN THE ERA OF HYBRID WORK AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION (THESIS STATEMENT)

Abstract

In an age defined by unprecedented workplace evolution, human-centric leadership emerges as the linchpin for organizational resilience and employee flourishing. As hybrid work models blend remote and in-office dynamics—adopted by 58% of companies per McKinsey's 2025 Global Workforce Report—and digital transformation accelerates through AI, automation, and cloud ecosystems, traditional command-and-control paradigms falter. Leaders must now prioritize empathy (active understanding of employee needs), emotional intelligence (EI, the capacity to recognize and regulate emotions in self and others), and proactive leadership development (structured training for adaptive skills). These elements are critical: empathy fosters trust amid isolation in hybrid setups; EI navigates emotional turbulence from tech disruptions; development ensures leaders evolve with change.