Humanistic leadership: A management innovation for leadership in stakeholder

Research background: The paper starts from the observation that the model of shareholder capitalism is no longer sustainable for the well-being of people, society and the planet and that the need to orient corporate strategies towards forms of stakeholder capitalism emerges. This paradigm shift requires innovating the approach to leadership, abandoning transactional approaches based on rewards and punishments in favor of humanistic leadership styles, which put people at the center of corporate decisions. Purpose of the article: The aim of the article is to discuss the characteristics of humanistic leadership, a theoretical construct that is not yet fully defined which we try to outline by highlighting possible contributions of the various theories on leadership, also clarifying how leadership is still an intrinsic component of managerial work. Methods: The study adopts a conceptual approach which, based on the main literature on the subject, seeks to identify the most significant traits that identify a humanistic approach to leadership. Findings & Value added: The paper arrives at a humanistic leadership model which, in addition to theories on charismatic and transformational leadership, can be enriched by the contributions of theories on emotional intelligence, servant leadership, authentic leadership and values-based leadership. The study also highlights the fundamental role of managerial innovation in leadership processes. Innovative leadership adapted to the contemporary world must be attentive to people, society and the planet to encourage the affirmation of the stakeholder capitalism paradigm. The added value of the contribution lies in proposing the necessary connection between Corporate Stakeholder Responsibility, the leaders as strategic actors of change and the shared value, as a goal to be pursued in the perspective of a humanistic management.